This French anonymous illustrated manuscript was written by a craftsman who was a founder and a goldsmith, also skilled in ceramics, stone carving, and color preparation. It comprises hundreds of entries, in no logical order, ranging from a few lines to a few pages, each preceded by a short title indicating the subject. Most of the entries describe technical procedures, materials and devices necessary for molding small reptiles and plants to produce decorative elements and objects. Numerous entries, richly illustrated, are dedicated to cannons, the production of cannonballs and other ammunition. There are recurrent entries about certain occupations, entitled painter, merchant, cannoneer, founder, furbisher, laborer, clock-maker, gardener, etc. Also frequent are entries about the preparation and usage of colors and materials for a variety of crafts, including gemstone carving, gilding, gold and silver mounts, and enamel. The technical entries are interspersed with other entries typical of commonplace books, such as health remedies, preservation of vegetables in winter, cosmetic recipes, and even a few sleight-of-hand tricks.
