- 43
Faraday, Michael
Estimate
20,000 - 30,000 USD
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Description
- ink and paper
"Deflagrations of Gold, and other metals, on vellum" (title in a secretarial hand on verso of front free end paper), [London, ca. 1857], 35 residual shadows of rapid burning of various elements, on the pages of an album of 'prepared vellum' by Charles Terry (embossed stamp in upper margins), 31 labelled in Faraday's hand ('Silver leaf' (3), 'Silver' (2), 'Gold', 'Copper Silver' (5), 'Iron' (2), 'Zinc' (3), 'Gold & Silver', 'Gold & Copper', 'Lead' (2), 'Gold leaf', 'Ant[imon]y', 'Bismuth', 'Silver gilt', 'Gold .1/800', 'Gold', 'Silver .1/350', 'Tin' (2), 'Copper .1/350' and 'Platinum'), the copper silver wire used for the deflagration on leaf 5 surviving in the gutter, 14 blank leaves. Original purple morocco, tooled in blind and gilt, edges gilt; worn and rubbed at spine and extremities.
Provenance
John Peter Gassiot (presentation inscription in the hand of Sarah Faraday "S.F.") — Robert H. Scott (gift of Miss H. Gassiot in 1877) — Professor E[leuthère] Mascart (given by Scott in 1894), all provenance recorded in inscriptions to Michael Faraday's visiting card, pasted inside upper cover) — Christie's sale, 23 November 2010, lot 20 (unnamed consignor)
Condition
worn and rubbed at spine and extremities.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.
Catalogue Note
Faraday discusses the process of deflagration in his 1857 paper "Deflagrations of Gold (and other metals)—heat—pressure, &c" (see his Experimental Researches in Chemistry and Physics, 1859, pp. 401 ff.). The process consisted in exploding wires of various metals and compounds by means of a battery, sometimes using atmospheres of oxygen and hydrogen, on glass plates and other media. The result here presented is an evocative collection of delicately colored patterns reminiscent of Rorschach's inkblots.
Gassiot (1797-1877) was Faraday's friend and collaborator in experiments on electrical discharges in evacuated tubes (early 1858). He had corresponded with Faraday as early as 1839 on electrical subjects, and was at this time vice-president of the Royal Society. A memento of this period of Faraday's life was therefore a particularly appropriate gift.
Gassiot (1797-1877) was Faraday's friend and collaborator in experiments on electrical discharges in evacuated tubes (early 1858). He had corresponded with Faraday as early as 1839 on electrical subjects, and was at this time vice-president of the Royal Society. A memento of this period of Faraday's life was therefore a particularly appropriate gift.