Many alchemical emblems and illustrations contain a pair of a man and a woman (often, a King and a Queen) with crossed arms, crossed flowers or branches. Of course, it symbolises Alchemical Wedding. Majority of those depictions appears in alchemical treatises from beginning of the XVI century.
I was very interested in finding of earlier sources and I finally found one of them, it is dated by 2nd half of the XV century. Not perfect date, but it is something.
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Miscellaneous treatises on alchemy, including John Lydgate's 'The Churl and the Bird' (the latter imperfect at the beginning)
Origin: England
Date: 2nd half of the 15th century
Language: English and Latin
Unfortunately, now the object of our interest (crossed arms) is not clearly visible, but the same scene was copied in You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. and was included in the printed You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. (Elias Ashmole - 1652). Look below.
It is interesting that alchemists used a retort which they called "Double Pelican" or "Gemini". These retorts really have "crossed arms". It was used for circular distillation.
Liber de arte dist. de simpl. 1500. „Distillation“ by circulation. You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.
Unfortunately, I didn't find the earlier example, but I keep searching.
I was very interested in finding of earlier sources and I finally found one of them, it is dated by 2nd half of the XV century. Not perfect date, but it is something.
You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.
Miscellaneous treatises on alchemy, including John Lydgate's 'The Churl and the Bird' (the latter imperfect at the beginning)
Origin: England
Date: 2nd half of the 15th century
Language: English and Latin
![[Image: K068882.jpg]](http://www.bl.uk/IllImages/Kslides/mid/K068/K068882.jpg)
![[Image: theatrum_chemicum_britannicum_.jpg]](https://labyrin6-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/theatrum_chemicum_britannicum_.jpg)
Liber de arte dist. de simpl. 1500. „Distillation“ by circulation. You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.


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