| The German word ‘Kobold’ is the term for gnomes and goblins. It appeared for the first time in connection with minerals in Agricola’s Bermannus (1530). The first practical use was in the form of zaffer or cobalt-blue. Zaffer will not melt alone, but accompanied by vitreous substances it melts into an azure colour and so used as ‘Smalte’ for glazed earthenware, for glass and china. Since 1470 the Saxony ore mountains, especially the Schneeberg district, was the most important supplier of cobalt ores. Main products of the ‘Blaufarbenwerke’ were zaffers (Safflor) cobaltoxides of different colours and smalte (Smalte) a mixture of cobaltoxides with quartz. The Electoral-Saxon blue colour was greatly appreciated. The Dutch managed in their country eight... |
