No. 133.] 131 



MARBLED IRON. 



Mr. Silas C. Herring, No. 813, Broadway, N. Y., exhibited fifiy- 

 two pieces of what is termed marbled iron, as specimens from 

 his manufactory, consisting of mantles, table tops, kc, all of 

 which attracted general attention and admiration. The founda- 

 tion is iron, cast from elaborately wrought patterns. The surface 

 of these castings, after being prepared, receives a coating, which 

 can be put on in imitation of the most delicate and choicest mar- 

 ble. The imitations are so perfect, that it requires a practised eye 

 to discover the dificrence. It is then submitted to a very high 

 degree of heat, in furnaces or ovens constructed for that purpose; 

 during the process of heating, the material which forms the coal- 

 ing, vitrifies and unites permanently with the cast iron without 

 maring the delicacy ot the lines or figures of the artist, or 

 changing the colors, except to brighten them. After the firing 

 process, the surface is susceptible of the most perfect and endu- 

 ring polish, which resi^^s the action of acids and other corroding 

 substances so detrimental to marble. The iron, thus finished, we 

 understand, permanently resists the action of moisture and ordi- 

 nary heat, and is not impaired by exposure to the atraospliere 

 throughout the year. 



It will be perceived that it' is applicable to almost an endless 

 variety of uses, including external as well as internal decorations 

 and embellishments. We have seen fluted columns of tliis mate- 

 rial ten feet in height, which were, to our eye, beautiful. If this 

 is not a new thing under the sun, it is certainly a combination of 

 great beauty and promising utility, resulting from an union of 

 science and art. It is a most perfect substitute for marble, as 

 far as appearance goes, and may be advantageousily used iji situ- 

 ations and under circumstances where marble itself w»uM utterly 

 fail. 



The process, we understand, is the invention of Messrs. R. F., 

 & J. P. Williams, of Ohio ; and the public are indebted, for its 

 early introduction into the market, to Silas C. Herring, Esq., and 

 Mr. John Ruston, of the city of New- York. It received the gold 

 medal of the American Institute at its late fair. a. c. 



