Engraving of a laboratory used for chemical analysis or assaying. The various pieces of equipment are labelled by letters. "A" is a furnace used to melt samples. "B" is a tray into which these samples are poured. "C" is a mask used to protect the face of the person viewing them. "D" is a flask that, when heated, will separate out volatile elements from a substance. "E" is a water displacement apparatus (the density of the sample can be determined by measuring how much water is displaced by a given weight of sample). The illustration is taken from "Beschreibung allerfurnemsten Mineralischen Erzt und Berckwercksarten" (1574) by Lazarus Ercker.