Dear Santa...

[hsifeng]

...I want this for Christmas:



Okaythankyoubyebye!

Comments

[virginiadear.livejournal.com]

Forgive my ignorance, please, but how does this particular equipment work?

And---if one may ask (probably shouldn't, I suppose)---what are you distilling and was this taken on a campus?
No, strike that last bit, definitely, and strike the first part maybe.

Sorry. I've been watching Marx Brothers films this afternoon to alleviate my boredom, and just to add some spice to that mix I've also been explaining to T's son what speakeasies were.
He wants to know how frequently the secret passwords were changed. I've told him, he has a topic for a sociology or history paper when he gets to college.
But I'm not sure how you'd get reliable information on that. Erm...documentable information....

[myladyswardrobe.livejournal.com]

A brazier?

I have one in brass! They are great as a table setting which can keep food warm.

[vanagnessayem.livejournal.com]

the brazier or the tajine?
I have three tajines now, love them~

[hsifeng.livejournal.com]

This one isn't really a tajine; it is a condensation chamber used to distill/extract. There is a great example of one being used on the Tales of the Green Valley DVD set. One uses cool cloths on the outside of the ‘bell’ to encourage the vapors inside to condense, these are then collected in a inner lip or ring, and pour out via a spout on the lower edge of the bell (not visible in this picture). Quite handy for distilling flower and herbal essences and a fun demonstration to run at events!

[hsifeng.livejournal.com]

Well, you light some coals in the brazier and place a bowl with liquid and the item you wish to distill/extract on them (ie. rose petals, etc.). The condensation chamber (the ‘bell shaped’ item) is placed on top. When the bell is smaller than the bowl, you can seal the gap with various things – it looks like they used leaves in this case. The warmed vapors rise and cling to the inside of the bell, where the application of cool cloths (to the exterior – as shown in this image) encourages them to condense and then flow down the glazed inner surface to the collection ring/inner lip. There is a spout on the lower edge of the bell (not visible in this picture) that then allows those condensed liquids to pour out into a collection pot.

At least, that is how I understand it to work! ;)

[hsifeng.livejournal.com]

The brazier I have, and the bowl as well - I just need to condensing chamber/distillation unit on top. I have been in love with it ever since seeing one in use on the Tales of the Green Valley DVD set!

[virginiadear.livejournal.com]

Maybe it was the speakeasy conversation, but somehow I had aquavit on my mind and was thinking that was gonna be a real slow go.
But a distillation for *le parfum,* now.....

:^D *Big, big smile*

[hsifeng.livejournal.com]

Oh trust me, if I end up with one I am sure that the hubby will have more alcoholic 'distilled' liquids in mind...

[virginiadear.livejournal.com]

XD

Ok, that's it

[claughter713.livejournal.com]

I need to find a pottery class, STAT

There are so many simple ceramics like this that I want (and you want) and refuse to pay tons for.

Hopefully there will be another ceramics class offered here in July/August and I'm signing up for it!

Re: Ok, that's it

[hsifeng.livejournal.com]

*Swweeeeeeet!* Lemme know when you start taking commissions… *grin*

Re: Ok, that's it

[scott moore (from livejournal.com)]

Me, too! These distillers (called alembics) appear in some of Bruegel's works and also Hieronymus Braunschweig wrote a book of distillation. If you google image search "Hieronymus Braunschweig distillation", you will find some examples, including this:

http://www.alchemywebsite.com/virtual_museum/book_of_distillation_room.html

I took some pictures of a mid-17thC glass distilling jar to help explain to potters how the inside should be shaped and fit onto the, uhm, mash pot. (I'm sure there is a word for it.)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/scottm/79262241/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/scottm/79262200/

Ta!

Re: Ok, that's it

[hsifeng.livejournal.com]

I <3 Scotty!