METALS, 
61 
Ornamental Iron Castings. Case No. 6. 
Some fine examples of the use of iron in art manufacture, 
and for the reproduction, in durable material, of works of high 
art, are here exhibited. Such productions are coloured either 
by the application of a resinous paint or by a process of 
bronzing, which may be effected by the application of chloride of 
platinum, of the salts of copper and iron , and by other means, 
one of these being the deposition of thin coats of copper or brass 
by the electrotype process. 
Some beautiful specimens of the delicate Berlin Castings are 
in this Case. At the time when the final struggle commenced 
between Prussia and Napoleon, the patriotism of the Prussian 
ladies was particularly conspicuous. With the noblest generosity 
they sent their jewels and trinkets to the Royal Treasury, to 
assist in furnishing funds for the expenses of the campaign. 
Rings, crosses, and other ornaments of cast iron given in return 
to those who made this sacrifice, l ore the inscription, Gold fur 
Eisen (gold for iron), and such Spartan jewels are, to this day, 
much treasured by the possessors and their families. This led to 
the production of ornaments far more delicate than anything 
which had heretofore been manufactured ; and these becoming 
known and admired in every part of Europe, an extensive trade 
in them speedily arose. 
The Castings intended for use in Bookbinding, the Cast Iron 
Fan Necklace, and Bracelets, from the iron works of the Count 
of Stolberg-Wernigerode, at Ilsenburg, Hartz Mountains 
(Magdeburg), are fine examples of this manufacture. 
The large circular ornamental casting, with the sand attached, 
as it was taken from the mould, shows the perfection to which 
the processes have been brought. It has been thought that 
much of the beauty of these castings depends upon the sand 
employed in forming the moulds. 
Manufacture of Spiegeleisen, &c. Case No. 8. 
One half of this Table Case, near the bust of Melpomene, is 
devoted to illustrations of the manufacture of Spiegeleisen, 
mostly presented by Mr. H. Bauerman. Spiegeleisen is a highly 
crystalline variety of white cast iron, rich in carbon and 
manganese, and exhibiting on fracture brilliant mirror-like 
cleavage- planes. Its manufacture has acquired considerable 
importance from its use in the Bessemer and other processes of 
steel-making. When the carbon has been completely removed 
from the cast-iron, a proper quantity of spiegeleisen or of 
ferro-manganese is introduced into the Bessemer converter, and 
thus the required proportion of carbon can be added with great 
precision. The spiegeleisen is largely smelted from the spathic 
iron ores, or carbonate of iron, of the Siegen district in 
Westphalia, and is also manufactured from similar ores in 
Styria ; whilst, in this country, suitable materials are furnished 
