Aurelio's Library

"Diamond Cuts in Historic Jewellery 1381-1910",  Herbert Tillander, 1995

An incredibly thorough overview of the design and use of diamonds in jewelry over a huge span. By far the most detailed text on this subject I know of.

"Des Principes De L'Architecture, De La Sculpture, De La Peinture, Et Des Autres Arts Qui En Dépendent: Avec Vn Dictionnaire des Termes propres à chacun de ces Arts", André Félibien, 1676

Postperiod, but an exceptionally detailed inventory of the tools and materials used by different arts and trades. The lapidary equipment is functionally identical to a lot of earlier in-period tooling, just more clearly illustrated and described.

Written in French, but I have transcribed and translated Chapter 8, on lapidary equipment. Please reference me if you end up using this translation!
Chapter 8 - Engraving on Precious Stones and Crystals

"A 15th-Century Polishing Machine for Gemstones Attributed to Henri Arnaut", Karl Shmetzer, 2019

A discussion of one of several 15th-century devices to facet gemstones and how they could connect ancient gemcutting to the 17th century methods.

Articles by Justin K. Prim, lapidary historian:

• The History of London's Lapidaries

• Fashioning Fire From Pebbles: Gemcutting in the Czech Republic 

• Lapidary Technology through the Ages: Laps and Polish 

• The Rise of Gemcutting and the Occult in Renaissance Europe 

"On Divers Arts",  Theophilius Presbetyr, 1122

A spectacularly thorough technical treatise on painting, glasswork, and goldsmithing, written by a (suspected, at least) practicing artist.

"Mediaeval European Jewellery",  R. W. Lightbown,  1992

A vast survey of medieval jewelry of all kinds from 800 - 1500 AD, and a catalogue of the Victoria and Albert Museum's collection.

R. Lierke, Early history of lampwork - Some facts, findings and theories. Part I. Kunckel's description of lampworking in the "Ars Vitraria Experimentalis". In: Glastechnische Berichte 63 (1990) H.12, 363-369. 

Experimental archaeology investigating the origins of Lampworking. Summary forthcoming.

R. Lierke, Early history of lampwork - Some facts, findings and theories. Part II. Fire or flame? Lampworking techniques in antiquity. In: Glastechnische Berichte 65 (1992) H.12, 341-348. 

Experimental archaeology investigating the origins of Lampworking. Summary forthcoming.

Experimentelle Archäologie in Europa 15 — Jahrbuch 2016, S. 186-197 Kategorie: Vermittlung und Theorie 

Experimental archaeology investigating the origins of Lampworking. Summary forthcoming

"Chemical Manipulations",  Michael Faraday,  1827

Out of SCA period but extremely useful for anyone who is interested in pre-modern chemistry, alchemy, or laboratory science. A lot of it follows directly from things that *were* practiced in period as well. This is the principle source that started my investigation of the blow-lamp and lampworking

"The Alchemy of Glass: Counterfeit, Imitation, and Transmutation in Ancient Glassmaking", Marco Beretta, 2009

History and evolution of early glassmaking (and materials theory) and its use as synthetic gemstones.