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From Theophilus to C.S.Smith: Discovery of an Eleventh Century AD Bell-Casting Mold From Venosa (Southern Italy)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2011

M. Vidale ,
A. Melucco Vaccaro ,
M.R. Salvatore ,
M. Micheli  and
C. Balista
M. Vidale
Affiliation:
Istituto Centrale per il Restauro, Rome, Italy, and Conservation Analytical Laboratory, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.
A. Melucco Vaccaro
Affiliation:
Istituto Centrale per il Restauro, Rome, Italy
M.R. Salvatore
Affiliation:
Istituto Centrale per il Catalogo, Rome, Italy
M. Micheli
Affiliation:
Istituto Centrale per il Restauro, Rome, Italy
C. Balista
Affiliation:
Consultant geoarchaeologist
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Abstract

The recent discovery and excavation of the remains of a well preserved mold for bell-casting below the floor of the medieval church of the SS. Trinita′ of Venosa (southern Italy) provides a singular opportunity to reconstruct aspects of ancient bell-making technology and to compare the new archaeological data with the textual evidence on the same subject written by the famous monk Theophilus in the XIth chapter of his treatise “De Diversis Artibus”. Stratigraphical excavation and video-endoscopic inspection of the mold's interior allowed a preliminary reconstruction of the structure and use of this unique craft installation.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 267: Symposium J – Materials Issues in Art and Archaeology III , 1992 , 757
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1992

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