In addition to the Mica used in stoves, there were the windows used
in stage coaches and carriages, this was made from the air bladder
of the sturgeon. My grandmother had a coach in her barn when I was a
kid, it had isinglass windows, it let in light, but that was about
it. The Webster lists both.
Among other things - Bole is a fine red clay used in gold leaf gilding (although there are other colours as well -ochre being one) It is put on over the gesso (which is the hard substrate or ground). The bole is porous and hygroscopic and enables the gold leaf to adhere to the gelatin sizing or rabbit skin glue..
Yes to all of that except that the gold leaf adheres to the thick
smooth layer of bole, at least in icon painting. The bole is applied
and when dried, the painting is held close to the painter’s mouth,
who blows hot moist air out that warms and softens the bole just
enough to allow the gold leaf to adhere. It’s very time consuming. In
icons every color and movement has spiritual meaning, so that
technique of applying gold leaf signifies the melding of earth with
God and infinity.
Debra
Hi Terry,
In addition to the Mica used in stoves, there were the windows used in stage coaches and carriages, this was made from the air bladder of the sturgeon. My grandmother had a coach in her barn when I was a kid, it had isinglass windows, it let in light, but that was about it. The Webster lists both.
Again I suspect that you may be mixing things up a bit. It is quite
feasible that coaches had windows made from mica - the rock type,
but isinglass made from a sturgeons swim bladder would have dissolved
during the first rain storm and this would have made a mockery of
the line in the song ‘Surrey with a fringe on top’ which says
‘…and isinglass shutters which would come right down, in case
there’s a change in the weather.’
Best Wishes
Ian
Ian W. Wright
Sheffield UK
Among other things - Bole is a fine red clay used in gold leaf gilding
For all you avid philologists out there, here’s another meaning of
“bole” that isn’t found in most dictionaries: it can refer to a hole
or niche, especially in Scottish dialects. Probably the most common
use of the word in this context is to describe “bee boles,” which are
niches specially built into stone or brick walls for the purpose of
sheltering straw skep beehives. Another instance is seen in the Boley
Bridge in Forfar, Scotland: it bears a series of decorative square
holes along its length.
This is why, when I read the first post in this thread, I
immediately thought that “bole” must refer to the seat cut for
setting a stone - which is the only thing this has to do with
jewelry-making 
Just thought I’d do my share to keep this fun
thread going!
Happy 2006, everybody!
Jessee Smith
www.silverspotstudio.com
Cincinnati, Ohio
Ian
I do mix things up on occasion, but on this, I think my memory to be
correct.
While the carriage is long gone, like my grandmother, the memory is
quite clear, the stuff was like a translucent leather. Having had
wood and coal stoves in my childhood, I knew the difference even
then, and the stuff in the carriage was different, I at first thought
it was an animal stomach. What made the whole affair so memorable, it
was the only friction I ever saw between my grandparents. Grandma’s
father had first bought the carriage because he refused to have a
car, and grandma kept the carriage after her parents passed away
because it was where she stood up to her father for the first time in
her life, over marrying grandfather. Grandpa, being a typical
Oklahoma farmer, thought very little of the waste of money in
building a shed for a contraption that would have better use as
kindling but for all his bluster on the issue, he kept a brace of
horses and livery and when we came to visit we would take a picnic to
the fish pond in the carriage. For the early 50’s it was an odd site
to see on the back roads of farm country.
Thanks for the prod to dig up a fond memory.
Terry
Hi Terry,
Ok, you’ve convinced me ;o)
I also did a bit of searching on the net and, whilst the two
definitions of ‘isinglass’ do appear to be interchangeable to some
extent - and seem to be confused even on the same web sites sometimes
- I did come across the following at
Coachbuilding Terminology, Coach Builders Dictionary, Body Builders Glossary, Definitions, Explanations, Coachmakers, Carriage Builders, Coachbult.com - ISINGLASS - typically a
window made from thin sheets made of a material other than glass.
Early isinglass was made from a transparent sheet of gelatin,
processed from the inner lining of a Sturgeon’s bladder. As it was
flexible, it was perfect for the storm curtains and window on early
touring cars. The term is now commonly used as any non-glass sheet
material which passes light, such as mica, oiled paper, celluloid or
plastic. Early isinglass of all varieties yellowed and scratched
easily.
I can only assume that the fish bladder kind of isinglass was used
on the basis that it is not easily soluble in cold water. It would be
interesting to know how long these windows lasted if used in wet
conditions regularly.
I also came across a reference to a 1930’s Ford car with isinglass
windows which seemed to indicate the fish bladder kind but I have
distinct memories of and old car my uncle had when I was a child
which had mica windows in its soft top. I got into real trouble for
cracking one once and it went misty as some pieces sheared off!!
Best Wishes
Ian
Ian W. Wright
Sheffield UK
Hi Ian
Good question on having it wet much, Oklahoma is pretty dry in the
pan handle area about 17 inches per year. But like I said it was shed
stored, I wonder what, if anything, she used to keep them from
cracking, leather didn’t last to long in that country either.
Terry