Instruments & Innovation

Fig. 201: Outward appearance of Bacchus set piece.

Kazimierz Siemienowicz's treatise was used for over a century as a basic manual on artillery, rocketry, and pyrotechnics. It was originally published in Latin (1650) and was translated into French (1651), German (1676),…

Fig. 202: Cross-section of the set piece of Fortuna, her body enclosing a single pyrotechnic case (as described in figure 189).

Fig. 204: Outward appearance of fortified castle set piece with diagrams of its inner construction and disposition of pyrotechnics.
Fig. 205: Statue of Mars upon a pedestal for use in public ceremonies of triumph.
Fig.…

Fig. 197: Wooden frame of dragon set piece.
Fig. 198: Disposition of pyrotechnics in the dragon frame.
Fig. 199: Outward appearance of dragon set piece.

Figs. 102 and 103: Projectile fireballs.
Fig. 104: Mortar for projecting fireballs.
Figs. 105 and 106: Paper crackers.
Figs. 107 and 108: Iron crackers.
Figs. 109-111: Hand grenades.
Fig. 112: Hand grenade launcher.…

Fig. 200: Cross-section of the set piece of Bacchus, his body enclosing multiple pyrotechnic cases connected by fuses.

Spectators gather at night around a pyrotechnic fountain crowned with a statue of a child blowing bubbles—a symbol of vanity. A temple (decorated with geometric symbols, weights, measures, and various weapons and…

Fig. 203: Outward appearance of Fortuna set piece.

Figs. 89-92: Floating fireballs.
Figs. 93-95: Bounding fireballs.
Figs. 96-101: Projectile fireballs.

Figs. 77-79: Devices to hang sky rockets.
Figs. 80-88: Floating fireballs.