Scrapbook of Illustrations

A Scrapbook of Brick Images

American brickmaking techniques were first developed in Flanders prior to the 1400's. The earliest image of these techniques is from a bible illumination printed in 1425. The picture purpoted to show the Jews making bricks in Egypt, but as was common in medieval art it showed the dress and practices modern to the 1400's. The clay is mixed with water in the foreground, moulded by hand in the shed - a four sided mould is probably used - and stacked for drying on the left. The kiln is on the right, and the finished bricks lie by the two gentlemen. In the coloured original flames can be seen coming from the lower door of the kiln, and the upper opening is coloured red.