author
Frederick Settle Barff
1823–1886
A Victorian chemist with a surprising range, he moved between science, church decoration, stained glass, and theology. He is best remembered for preservation methods that aimed to protect iron, stone, wood, and even foodstuffs from damage.
1 Audiobook
British Manufacturing Industries: Pottery, Glass and Silicates, Furniture and Woodwork.
by Léon Arnoux, Frederick Settle Barff, John Hungerford Pollen
About the author
Born in Hackney in 1823, Frederick Settle Barff was an English chemist whose career reached far beyond the laboratory. He studied at Christ's College, Cambridge, and became known not only for scientific work but also for his strong interest in theology and church art.
Barff taught chemistry in prominent institutions, including the Royal Academy of Arts and the Catholic University College in Kensington. His name is most often linked with practical preservation processes, especially methods intended to reduce corrosion and help protect materials such as iron and steel.
He also worked as an ecclesiastical decorator and stained glass maker, which gives his life a distinctive mix of science and visual art. That combination makes him an especially intriguing nineteenth-century figure: a man equally interested in materials, craftsmanship, and belief.