Alembic Collection

Lavoisier, Antoine Laurent (1743-1794). French chemist.. Established the composition of the water and the basis of bioenergetics

The Chemist 1827
A chemist with his apprentice in his laboratory. A copper alembic is on his left, to the right a sand heat and a furnace is in the middle. Date: 1827

bn Zuhr (ca. 1092-ca. 1162). Andalusi physician
Ibn Zuhr (ca. 1092-ca. 1162). Andalusi physician, philosopher and poet born in Penaflor (Seville, Andalusia, Spain). Known in medieval Europe by the name of Avenzoar. Portrait

Allegorical scene with Flora, Botany, Physics and Pomona
Flora, crowned with a garden of flowers, offering floral tributes to three figures - Botany (shown holding an alembic)

The Cage of Fools (La gabbia de matti), 1557-63. Creator: Sebastiano di Re
The Cage of Fools (La gabbia de matti), 1557-63

Science. Textile manufacturing
3434762 Science. Textile manufacturing. Boiler for the production of aniline (organic compound used in dyeing)

Science. Chemistry. Wine still of Chaptal
3434913 Science. Chemistry. Wine still of Chaptal, 1720 Engraving in: Grands hommes et grands faits de l'industrie, France, c.1880 (engraving); (add.info.: Sciences. Coll. Part. Science)

Science. Water. The Still of Isaac Berard
3434911 Science. Water. The Still of Isaac Berard, 1806. Engraving in: Grands hommes et grands faits de l'industrie, France, c.1880 (engraving); (add.info.: Sciences. Coll. Part. Science. Water)

Science. Isaac Berard test his still
3434912 Science. Isaac Berard test his still. Engraving in: Grands hommes et grands faits de l'industrie, France, c.1880 (engraving); (add.info.: Sciences. Coll. Part. Science)

Flora, crowned with a garden of flowers
FLO4563185 Flora, crowned with a garden of flowers, offering floral tributes to three figures - Botany (shown holding an alembic)

The Sixth Key of Basil Valentine
535622 The Sixth Key of Basil Valentine, legendary 15th century German monk

"Looking Out" - painted by F. W. Topham - from the Exhibition of the Society of Painters in Water Colours, 1856

Scene from the Extravaganza of "Frankenstein, or, The Model Man" at the Adelphi Theatre, [London], 1850

Benedictine distillery. (Illustration, circa 1930)
5975928 Benedictine distillery. (Illustration, circa 1930) by French School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Power supply)

Ms 2327 f. 81v Two alembics and their receivers, copy of a late 3rd or early 4th century
CHT206276 Ms 2327 f.81v Two alembics and their receivers, copy of a late 3rd or early 4th century treatise on alchemy by Zosimos of Panoplis (vellum) by Greek School

Various types of chemical stills
Alembic still with cucurbit flask and stil-head, alcohol still, and subliming aludel or Hermetic vase

Ms 276 Emblematic diagram of the alchemical processes for the production of
FIT77527 Ms 276 Emblematic diagram of the alchemical processes for the production of the Philosophers Stone, scene I, from the Ripley Scrolls (ink on paper mounted on linen) by English School

Emperor Rudolph II Habsburg (1552-1612) in his alchemy workshop (colour litho)
CHT206280 Emperor Rudolph II Habsburg (1552-1612) in his alchemy workshop (colour litho) by Hungarian School

The Alchemist, 1663. Creator: Cornelis Bega
The Alchemist, 1663

Gold, late 19th century. Creator: George Greatbach
Gold, late 19th century. A 16th-century alchemist showing some gold that he has supposedly just made. For hundreds of years, attempts were made to create gold alchemically by transforming base metals

Lavoisier, Antoine Laurent (Paris, 1743-1794). French chemist.. Established the composition of the water and the basis of bioenergetics

Geber, Islamic Spanish alchemist
Geber (c.722-c.815), Islamic Spanish alchemist. Geber is a Latinised form. His full Arabic name is Jabir ibn Hayyan

From alchemy to chemistry, 19th century
From alchemy to chemistry, 19th-century artwork. Alchemy is represented by the middle-aged man in the foreground, carrying out a distillation with an alembic

Alchemy satire, 18th-century artwork
Alchemy satire, 18th-century satirical artwork depicting an alchemist as a monkey operating bellows to supply air to a furnace on which potions and distillations are being prepared

The Sixth Key of Basil Valentine, legendary 15th century German monk and alchemist, 1651

Distillation, 1882. Cross-section showing a furnace heating a still

Chemist, 1508. A chemist or alchemist is using bellows to heat up the fire under a crucible. Behind him an alembic standing on a furnace is being used for distillation

Egrot apparatus. Alcohol destillation. Exposition of Paris
Egrot apparatus. Alcohol destillation. Gold medal. Exposition of Paris, 1878. Engraving by Victor Rose. La Ilustracion Espanola y Americana, 1897. Colored

Apparatus for distillation
illustration of a Distilling Apparatus

Distillation: Still in water bath (bain-marie), showing an Alembic. From Braunschweig Liber de arte distillandi, Strasbourg, 1500. Hand-coloured woodcut

The Alchemist 1661. Oil on panel. Adriaen van Ostade (1610-1685) Dutch genre painter. Alchemist applying bellows to furnace

Distillation 1882. Cross-section showing furnace heating a still. Matter distilled
Distillation 1882. Cross-section showing furnace heating a still

Alchemical laboratory showing various forms of furnace and vessels. From Elias Ashmole Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum London 1652

The Sixth Key of Basil Valentine, legendary 15th century German monk, showing the
The Sixth Key of Basil Valentine, legendary 15th century German monk

Distillation of alcohol (aqua vitae). Distillation took place in an alembic set over a furnace

Anatomist at work, 18th century
Anatomist at work. 18th-century artwork showing a seated man studying an anatomy book, with an anatomical model at left

Alchemy experiment, 19th century
Alchemy experiment. 19th-century artwork showing an alchemist bending over to observe the results of an experiment

Distillation machine still with steel and copper boiler and column to make grape juice spirit. Kantina Miqesia or Medaur winery, Koplik. Albania, Balkan, Europe

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The alembic, a symbol of scientific progress and alchemical transformation, has played a significant role in the history of chemistry. One of its most notable proponents was Antoine Laurent Lavoisier, a French chemist who established the composition of water. In "The Chemist" (1827), an allegorical scene depicts Flora, Botany, Physics, and Pomona surrounding Lavoisier as he conducts his experiments with the alembic. Dating back to ancient times, illustrations such as the one found in Ms 2327 f. 81v showcase two alembics and their receivers from the late 3rd or early 4th century. Over time, various types of chemical stills have been developed to refine substances through distillation processes like those seen in the Benedictine distillery illustration from circa 1930. Alchemy workshops were also popular during different eras; Emperor Rudolph II Habsburg is depicted in his workshop on a colourful lithograph. The pursuit of transmutation can be observed further in artworks like "The Alchemist" (1663) by Cornelis Bega and "The Cage of Fools" (1557-63) by Sebastiano di Re. Even into the late 19th century, gold remained an object of fascination for many alchemists seeking its secrets. George Greatbach's creation titled "Gold" captures this allure perfectly. Throughout history, whether it be through scientific discovery or mystical pursuits, the alembic has stood as a powerful symbol representing mankind's quest for knowledge and transformation.