Collection of Alchemical Manuscripts

This central alchemical illustration shows a glass vessel, specifically a round-bottomed flask or cucurbit, which is sealed with a stopper. Inside the vessel, an Ouroboros circles a globe. The Ouroboros is a serpent devouring its own tail. The globe is marked with lines suggesting a map or geographic features. Its lower left quadrant is heavily shaded in black. This shading likely symbolizes the stage of "nigredo," or the blackening. Above the neck of the flask, a decorative, flowing scroll contains the text "46. Calcination." The illustration is set against a plain background with faint vertical guide lines visible on the page.

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