16th century texts on assaying. Origins of quantitative analysis?

Abstract

The fire assay techniques for the determination of gold and silver are quantitative methods published in detail in the sixteenth century, and it is interesting to examine the degree of experimental sophistication achieved by these technicians at least two centuries before the existence of any modern chemical theory.

Assaying in antiquity

“…These dates bring us within the known history of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths of London which was in existence by at least 1179, received its first Royal Charter in 1327 and appointed its first full-time assayer in 1478 (36) (Figure 6). Soon after this the first printed descriptions of the techniques of assaying appeared, spreading knowledge of the techniques of cupellation to all who could read (37,38) (Figure 7). …”