Materials by composition
Rubber (material)
Gummi
vulcanite
Kautschuk
initial version
Semper describes rubber as the “ape of useful materials” that “adapts and lends itself to every purpose”. He speaks of “its extraordinary uniformity of mass, its mild black colour, the smoothness of its flawless polished surface, and finally a solidity and immutability”. Rubber applications that Semper experienced in his day were much wider than what we see today (e.g. vulcanite, rubber velvet, etc).
“shoes with fine vents that were impervious to water but allowed perspiration to evaporate; clothing of every kind; waterproof coverings […] for exterior wall dressings; maps; tents; pontoons; lifeboats; life vests; diving suits; suspension rings (instead of springs) for carriages, mounted on the chassis; picture frames; solid or upholstered furniture; saddle racks; book bindings; small spigots for barrels; buttons; watering cans; gun butts; saber sheaths; cartridge cases; spools and other machine parts; combs for personal care and for weaving; shiny spades; ribs for corsets and spokes for umbrellas and parasols; walking sticks; exceptionally thin, flexible and durable spectacle frames; handles for knives and every kind of tool; rulers for drawing, divided into millimetres; haut-reliefs with and without gilding; jewelry items, little boxes, and every kind of knick-knack.”