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The Heinrich Wiesel Paint Factory in Gehren, Thuringia
Conservation Science in Dialogue
Briefkopf der Firma Wiesel mit Firmenansicht
© Stadtarchiv Gehren, Kämmerei-Rechnungen 1909/1910, Fol. 229
Transcription and Analysis of a Late 19th-Century Paint Manufacturer’s Collection of Formulas
Speaker: Eva Eis, Kremer Pigmente GmbH & Co. KG
Recipe books, production logs, or collections of manufacturing instructions were carefully guarded trade secrets and have rarely survived. The recipe collection from the estate of Otto Wiesel is one such rarity. The Heinrich Wiesel company was founded in 1862 in Gehren, Thuringia, and supplied customers both domestically and abroad. Only blueprints and historical illustrations from other companies still provide a glimpse into the daily work routine and atmosphere in such a paint factory.
The collection, dating from 1888 to 1894, contains more than 1,500 period-typical recipes for the production of pigments, pigment lacquers, as well as varnishes and inks. Comparisons with contemporary technical literature and the specifications of other paint manufacturers demonstrate the value of these recipes and their potential significance for art-historical research.
Speaker: Eva Eis, Kremer Pigmente GmbH & Co. KG
Recipe books, production logs, or collections of manufacturing instructions were carefully guarded trade secrets and have rarely survived. The recipe collection from the estate of Otto Wiesel is one such rarity. The Heinrich Wiesel company was founded in 1862 in Gehren, Thuringia, and supplied customers both domestically and abroad. Only blueprints and historical illustrations from other companies still provide a glimpse into the daily work routine and atmosphere in such a paint factory.
The collection, dating from 1888 to 1894, contains more than 1,500 period-typical recipes for the production of pigments, pigment lacquers, as well as varnishes and inks. Comparisons with contemporary technical literature and the specifications of other paint manufacturers demonstrate the value of these recipes and their potential significance for art-historical research.
Price info: Free admission
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