XVII. How to imitate a black jasper, or variegated black marble.XVIII. Another way.XIX. An excellent varnish to give a fine gloss to the above-mentioned jasper, or variegated black marble.

Valuable Secrets concerning Arts and Trades:
or Approved Directions, from the best Artists, for the Various Methods...
Printed by Thomas Hubbard,
Norwich, 1795Chap. III. Secrets for the composition of Varnishes, &c.


XVII. How to imitate a black jasper, or variegated black marble.

Take sulphur-vivum, quick lime, aquafortis, and the green rind of walnuts, equal quantities, one ounce of each. Dilute all together; then lay it with a brush on what you want to be jaspered, whether a column, a table, or any thing else. This done, put your table or column, &c. thus blackened, in a dunghill, for the space of twelve days, and then take it out again. You will find it well veined and variegated. To give it a like gloss afterwards, you rub it with a varnish composed as prescribed hereafter.

See Art. xix.


XVIII. Another way.

Make a large ball, with the drugs prescribed in the above receipt, to compose your black. Lay it for a week in a dunghill. When, by that means, it is well variegated, rub your intended piece of furniture with it. This being thus variegated, you lay on it the following varnish, to give it fine lustre.


XIX. An excellent varnish to give a fine gloss to the above-mentioned jasper, or variegated black marble.

Take oil of spikenard, three ounces; sandarak, well picked and clean, two. Have a new earthen pot well glazed. Set it before the fire, awarming, without any thing in it. When hot, throw in it one half of the sandarak, and one half of the oil. Stir well, left it should burn, or stick to the pot. When it is nearly melted, throw in the remainder of the oil and sandarak. When all is well dissolved and mixed, add apiece of camphire, to take away the bad smell of this composition, and let it dissolve; then bottle and stop it for use. Warm it every time before you lay it on, for it requires to be used hot.