IMITATING MOTHER-OF- PEARL UPON VARIOUS SURFACES
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Gedge, of the Firm of John Gedge
and Son, of No. 11; Wellington Street, Strand, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMITATING MOTHER-OF-
PEARL UPON VARIOUS SURFACES."-A communication from abroad by
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Gedge
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
31st July 1866.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of the Firm of John Gedge and. Son, of
No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMITATING MOTHER-
OF-PEARL UPON VARIOUS SUBSTANCES," (a communication to me from abroad
by Charles Sticht, of 39, Faubourg St. Martin, Paris, France,) to.be as
follows:-
The object of this Invention is to imitate the surfaces of mother-of-pearl on
solid bodies generally, but principally on paper, wood, leather, woven fabrics,
and plaster.
This Invention results from an attentive examination and consideration of
the mother-of-pearl of the edible oyster, the printadina margaritefers. The
[Price 8d.1

page_text: Inventor has arrived at the conclusion that the shot and rainbow coloured
reflections presented by mother-of-pearl are not always a simple effect of
interference resulting from the structure of its surface, but very often a
deposit of the metals contained in solution by sea water (such as silver, iron,
and lead) which by their extreme tenuity have hitherto escaped analysis.
The oyster contains within it sulphuretted hydrogen; the hydrogen carries off
the oxygen from the oxydes, and reduces these oxydes to a metallic state, at
the same time the sulphur of the sulphuretted hydrogen combines with the
metals thus regenerated and converts them into sulphurs, which give the
metallic colours. In fact a mixture of calcareous matters of isinglass or
gelatine and of salts dissolved in water, or in their water of crystallization
and applied in a thin coating or layer on any surface which will lend itself to
such application gives in a current of sulphydric acid the structure of mother-
of-pearl with prismatic colours, which may be modified by the aid of a current
of chromhydric, isdhydric, and similar acids. Without the aid of these gases
mother-of-pearl surfaces may be obtained in the open air, either white or
tinted, by transparence, a coloured foundation being used. The structure of
the mother-of-pearl surfaces may be regulated at the first sign of the arrange-
ment of, the molecules, so as to obtain the most varied forms. For this
purpose pointed instruments may be momentarily applied, or typographical
frames or plates arranged ad hoc. One or several salts may be used mixed in
variable proportions, without the addition of other ingredients than gelatinous
or resinous matters; acetates and sulphates are to be preferred. It will be
understood that the choice of the gelatinous and resinous matters depends
upon the acid of the salt. The coating or layer may be applied on the
surfaces of an object by brushes, spatulas,rollers, or by cold or hot immersion.
Very beautiful effects are obtained on plastic figures and ornaments by reason
of the diversified reflection of the light.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Gedge in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 29th January 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, 1, William
EDWARD GEDGE, of the Firm of John Gedge and Son, of No. 11, Wellington
Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, send greeting
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of July, in the year of our Lord

page_text: One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Edward Gedge, Her special licence that I, the said William
Edward Gedge, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said William Edward Gedge, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time,
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMITATING MOTHER-OF-PEARL UPON VARIOUS SURFACES," (a com-
munication to me from abroad by Charles Sticht, of 39, Faubourg St. Martin,
Paris, France,) upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William
Edward Gedge, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my,or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Gedge, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
The object of this invention is to imitate the surfaces of mother-of-pearl
on solid bodies generally, but principally on paper, wood, leather, woven
fabrics, and plaster.
This Invention results from an attentive examination and consideration of
the mother-of-pearl of the edible oyster, the "printadina margaritifero." The
Inventor has arrived at the conclusion that the shot and rainbow coloured
reflections presented by mother-of-pearl are not always a simple effect of
interference resulting from the structure of its surface, but very often a
deposit of the metals contained in solution by sea water (such as silver, iron,
and lead) which by reason of their extreme tenuity have hitherto escaped
analysis. The oyster contains within it sulphuretted hydrogen; the hydrogen
carries off the oxygen from the oxydes, and reduces these oxydes to a
metallic state; at the same time the sulphur of the sulphuretted hydrogen
combines with the metals thus regenerated and converts them into sulphites,
which give the metallic colours. In fact a mixture of calcareous matters of
isinglass or gelatine and of salts dissolved in water, or in their water of
crystallization, and applied in a thin coating or layer on any surface which

page_text: will lend itself to such application gives in a current of sulphydric acid the
structure of mother-of-pearl with prismatic colours, which may be modified
by the aid of a current of chromhydric, isdhydric, and, similar acids. Without
the aid of these gases mother-of-pearl surfaces may be obtained in the open
air, either white or tinted, by transparence, a coloured foundation or ground
being used. The structure of the mother-of pearl surfaces may be regulated
at the first sign of the arrangement of the molecules, so as to obtain the most
varied forms. For this purpose pointed instruments may be momentarily
applied, or typographical frames or plates arranged ad hoc. One salt only
or several salts may be used mixed in variable proportions without the
addition of other ingredients than gelatinous or resinous matters; acetates and
sulphates are to be preferred. It will be understood that the choice of the
gelatinous and resinous matters depends upon the acid of the salt. The
coating or, layer may be applied on the surfaces of an object by brushes,
spatulas, rollers, or by cold or hot immersion. Very beautiful effects are
obtained on articles in plastic by reason of the diversified reflection of the
light.
Claim is made to the exclusive use of the arrangements above described,
no matter upon what sort of material the product is employed.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Gedge, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.