Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Fullonica

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

FULLO'NICA and FULLO'NIUM (κναφεῖον). A fuller's washhouse and premises. (Ulp. Dig. 39. 3. 3. Ammian. xiv. 11. 31.) An extensive establishment of this kind has been excavated at Pompeii, of which the ground plan (Fullonica/1.1) is annexed, as it will serve to convey a very accurate notion of the numerous conveniences required for conducting the different processes of the business, and the manner in which they were apllied. A. The principal entrance from the main street. B. The porter's lodge. C. The impluvium, like that in ordinary houses, surrounded by a colonnade, supported by twelve square pilasters, upon one of which the figures of fullers at work, represented in the last and following woodcut, are painted. D. A fountain with a jet of water, a representation of which is introduced under the word SIPHO. E. A spacious apartment, opening upon the peristyle or courtyard of the premises, and perhaps used for drying the clothes. F. A tablinum, with a room on each side of it, where customers were probably received, when they came upon business. G. A closet or wardrobe, in which the clothes were deposited after they had been scoured, and kept until called for; the marks of the shelves are still visible against the walls. H. An adjoining room; the first on the right hand, which is within that part of the premises where the active operations of the trade were carried on. I. The large wash-house with a tank, where the clothes were cleansed by simple washing and rinsing. K. The place where the dirt and grease were got out by rubbing and treading with the feet. LLLLLL. Six niches constructed on the sides of the room, and separated from one another by low walls, about the height of a man's armpits, in each of which was placed a tub where the fuller stood, and worked out the impurities of the cloth, by jumping upon it with his bare feet, an operation which he effected by raising himself upon his arms, while they rested on the side-walls, in the manner exhibited by the annexed engraving (Fullonica/1.2) from one of the pictures above mentioned. MMM. Three smaller tanks, either for washing, or, more probably, in which the clothes were left to soak before they were washed. N. A fountain or well for the use of the workmen. O. A back gate opening on a small street, contiguous to that portion of the premises in which the active part of the trade was performed. PP. Rooms for which no particular use connected with the trade can be assigned. Q. The furnace of the establishment. R. An apartment contiguous to the furnace. S. Stairs ascending to an upper story. TTT. Apartments opening upon the peristyle, painted in fresco, and probably appropriated for the use of the master and mistress of the establishment. The rooms at the bottom of the plan, without references, are shops facing the street, and belonging to other tradesmen, as they have no connection nor communication with the Fullonica.

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  Fullonica/1.1
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  Fullonica/1.2