TERRA-COTTA, BRICK, ETC. 
103 
Vienna Brick Manueacture. 
The nature of the brick made by the Company bas 
already been explained in pari, in describing thcir remark- 
able exhibition. It is sufficient to say that they make 
almost every Standard form of brick, for corners, cornices 
and arches, similar to those made by the Rennberg Works 
in Berlin, of which a full suite of figures is given beyond. 
The glazed and enamelled bricks appear well, and will, no 
doubt, be largely used in exterior and inferior decoration; 
and, also, for walls of dairies, kitchens, stables, and simi 
lar places, the walls of which require washing. 
The manufacture of bricks and tiles in the Vienna valley 
undoubtedly dates from the occupation by the Romans, 
seventy years after Christ. Excavations in the old city 
bring to light quantities of bricks, of various sizes and 
forms, and among them those of Roman make, bearing the 
dato of xiii. (gemini) and x. (pro fidelis) Legions. The 
collections of antiquities at Vienna contain many of these 
bricks remarkable for their perfect preservation, eveiy angle 
and line being as sharp as when they were taken from the 
kiln.* They are generally thin compared with their 
breadth, and are of large size and red color. 
The excellent quality of the bricks made by this Company 
is sufficiently attested by the large constructions in which 
they have been used, and without change aftei long expo- 
sure. In 1851, 20,000,000 bricks were furnished under con- 
tract to the Semmering tunnels for the railway, and another 
contract for 40,000,000 for the public works at Vienna was 
being filled at the same time. The following named well- 
known edifices are constructed of these bricks: The Impe 
rial and Royal Arsenals (very large structures, wholly of 
red brick), the Greek Church, Synagogue, Protestant 
School, the Chemical Laboratory of the new University, 
and the Austrian Museum of Art and Iudustry. 
* The most interesting of these collections is perhaps that in the fourth cabinet of 
the Q. & R. Medals and Antiquities, Petit-Belvedere. The greater portion of these 
bricks were found at Vienna and at Petronell. Some of them bear the mark 
VINDOB (on*) and KAR (nuntum). In this collection tliere are two tile-like 
bricks from Bagdad, impressed with cunefortn characters of the time of Nebuchad- 
nezzar, seventh Century B. C. Size, 12 by 13 by 3 inches. 
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