Fig. 618. Crio-Sphinx.
Fig. 618. Crio-Sphinx.
Fig. 618. Crio-Sphinx.
Sphinx, Egyp. (Σφίγξ). An emblem peculiarly Egyptian, signifying the religious mystery; in this sense it was adopted by the Romans and placed in the pronaos of their temples. TheAndro-Sphinx(Fig.617), a human head upon a lion’s body, typified generally the union of intellectual and physical power; theCrio-Sphinx(Fig.618) had the head of a ram; and theHieraco-Sphinx(Fig.619) that of a hawk. The two latter are complex emblems; the hawk being the sun-god’s and the king’s special figure, and the ram that of the god Neph. The symbolical importance of these figures was completely disregarded in the course of their application to the purposes of Greek art.
Fig. 619. Hieraco-Sphinx.
Fig. 619. Hieraco-Sphinx.
Fig. 619. Hieraco-Sphinx.
Sphyrelata, Gr. Hammered metal-work; the earliest form of art manufacture in metal. Archaic statues, antecedent to the invention of the art of casting, were formed of hammered plates fastened together with rivets. (SeeMetallurgy.)
Spicæ Testaceæ, R. (spica, ear of corn). Oblong bricks for pavements; applied in the Spicatum Opus.
Fig. 620. Spicatum Opus.
Fig. 620. Spicatum Opus.
Fig. 620. Spicatum Opus.
Spicatum(opus), R. A term answering to ourHERRING-BONE.work; it was a kind of construction in which the stones were arranged so as to resemble the setting of the grains in an ear of corn. (Fig.620.)
Fig. 621. Spiculum.
Fig. 621. Spiculum.
Fig. 621. Spiculum.
Spiculum, R. (dimin. ofspicum, a point). The barbed iron head of an arrow or lance. The custom of barbing weapons dates from a very early period, since it is met with in prehistoric times. Fig.621shows a barbed bone arrow.
Spider-work(opus araneum). A kind of embroidery; specimens of the 13th and 14th centuries are in South Kensington Museum.
Spike.Oil of spikeused in wax painting is prepared from the wild lavender.
Spina, R. (lit. a spine). A long, low wall along the middle of a circus, marking off the course in a race. At each end were the goals, (metæ). (SeeCircus,Meta.)
Fig. 622. Spinet. 18th century.
Fig. 622. Spinet. 18th century.
Fig. 622. Spinet. 18th century.
Spinet(Ital.spinetta). An old-fashioned musical instrument on the principle of theharpsichordand pianoforte. Brass and steel wires were struck by quills fixed to the tongues of jacks which were moved by the keys of a finger-board. (Fig.622.)
Spinther, R. (σφιγκτήρ). A bracelet; it was worn upon the left arm, and retained in its place merely by the elasticity of the material. The term is really a corruption ofsphincter, the muscle which remains naturally contracted. (SeeArmilla.)
Spira, R. (σπεῖρα). Anything spiral or coiled; such as (1) a coil of rope; (2) an ornament worn by women on the head; (3) the string by which the cap of the Salian priests was fastened under the chin; (4) the base of a column.
Spire, Arch. An acutely-pointed termination crowning a steeple. (SeeChamfer.)
Spirit Fresco.A new method of painting infresco, introduced by Mr. Gambier Parry, 1880.
Spirits of Wineare used to dissolve resins in the preparation of varnishes.
Spirula.Diminutive ofspira.
SpittleorSpittlehouse, O. E. A hospital.
Spolarium, R. (spolio, to strip off). A cloakroom in the baths, where the bathers left their clothes; in an amphitheatre or circus the term was applied to a cella in which gladiators who had been killed in the arena were stripped of their clothes and weapons.
Spolia, R. Booty taken in war.Prædameans plunder generally;Manubium, the share of the commander or the state;Exuviæ, the personal spoils of an enemy; andSpolia, properly speaking, arms or implements of war. (SeeOpima Spolia.)
Fig. 623. Carved ivory Spoon with figure of “January.”
Fig. 623. Carved ivory Spoon with figure of “January.”
Fig. 623. Carved ivory Spoon with figure of “January.”
Fig. 624. Folding Spoon of carved box-wood.
Fig. 624. Folding Spoon of carved box-wood.
Fig. 624. Folding Spoon of carved box-wood.
Spoon, Chr. In early times, especially among the Greeks, Syrians, and Copts, the sacrament in one kind only was administered with a small gold or silver spoon, into which a few drops of the consecrated wine were poured. In the Middle Ages spoons were frequently ornamented with figures, some carved in ivory or wood, and others of metal.Apostle Spoonshad figures of the Apostles on the handles. (SeeLabisandCochlear.)
Sporta, R. A broad plaited basket made of wood and usually furnished with two handles. Diminutives of this term aresportellaandsportula.
Springers, Arch. The lowest stones of an arch resting on a column, pilaster, or cluster of small columns.
Spurswith rowels appear first in the 13th century; in early times and in antiquity they were merely sharp goads fixed to the heel. In the middle of the 15th century spurs were of extravagant length. In Heraldry, theknightly spurhad a single point, up to about 1320, and was known as the “pryck-spur;” the later form is called the “rouelle-spur.”
Spurn, O. E. A piece of stone or wood protecting a corner house or gate-post from wheels. One end is fixed in the ground, and the other attached at an angle to the post or wall.
Squinch, Arch. Small arches built across angles of towers to support projecting masonry above.
Stadium, Gr. (στάδιον). The course for the foot-race at Olympia, which measured exactly one stadium (606¾ feet). The stadium was the principal Greek measure for distance, and equalled the eighth of a Roman mile.
Stag(cervus). Representations of the stag occur in many Christian bas-reliefs and paintings. It is the emblem of many dissimilar moral ideas, but more especially of a longing desire for baptism, from an application of the text in the 42nd Psalm, “Like as the hart,” &c. (SeeHart.)
Stalactite(Gr.στάλαγμα, an icicle). Spar, in the form of icicles hanging from the roof of a cavern.Stalagmitesare heaped up from their droppings on the floor, forming when they unite with the Stalactites the so called Organ pipes.
Stalagmium, Gr. and R. (σταλάγμιον). An ear-ring decorated with pearls, or small gold or silver drops, which bore more or less resemblance to the shape of a drop of water (στάλαγμα), whence its name.
Stall-plate, Her. The plate bearing the arms of a knight, and placed in his stall in the chapel of his order.
Stalls, Chr. Seats in a chapel; made to be used in two ways: either with the flap of the seat let down called “sellette,” which formed the regular seat, or with the flap raised, affording only a small resting-place calledmiserere. The elbows are often called “museaux” from their being in many cases ornamented with the head of some animal. (SeeMiserere.)
Stamen, R. The spun thread as it comes off the spindle.
Stamnos, Gr. and R. A vessel in the shape of a Panathenæan water-jar or amphora, but with a wider neck, and with two ears and no handle.
Stanchion, Arch. The upright iron bar between the mullions of a window.
StandardorBanner, Chr. The symbol of victory over sin, death, and idolatry. (SeeEnsigns,Labarum,Signa, &c.) In heraldry, a long narrow flag introduced in the 14th century. TheRoyal Standardbears the blazonry of the Queen’s arms. TheUnion Jackwas produced in the reign of James I., in 1606, as the national flag of united England and Scotland, combining the banners of St. George and St. Andrew. The latestUnion Jackshows, over the saltire of St. Andrew, thegulesof St. Patrick, and was introduced upon the occasion of theunionwith Ireland. The word “Jack” is a corruption of the French “Jacques,” for James.
Standing Stones.Celtic monuments, also calledmegalithic, consisting of a row of stones standing in a line. (SeeDolmen,Menhir,Megalithic, &c.)
Standish, O. E. A case for pens and ink; an inkstand.
Stanniferous Wares.(SeePottery.)
Stapes,Stapia, Med. Lat. A stirrup.
Fig. 625. Badge of the Star of India.
Fig. 625. Badge of the Star of India.
Fig. 625. Badge of the Star of India.
Star of India.An order of knighthood instituted by Queen Victoria in 1861. TheInsigniaare theBadge(Fig.171);collarof heraldic roses and lotus-flowers alternating with palm-branches, a crown being in the centre;ribbonof pale blue with white borders, crossing the left shoulder; andstarof diamonds, having a mullet upon an irradiated field in its centre, with the motto “Heaven’s Light our Guide.”
Mullet. Estoile.Fig. 626. Heraldic Stars.
Fig. 626. Heraldic Stars.
Fig. 626. Heraldic Stars.
Stars, Her. (SeeEstoile,Mullet.)
Stars, Chr. Emblematic of the canopy of Heaven, are generally represented on the domed ceilings of churches. These were usually forged in metal and fixed on to an azure ground. They are attributes of the Virgin Mary as queen of heaven, and of St. Dominic and other saints.
Fig. 627. Star-moulding.
Fig. 627. Star-moulding.
Fig. 627. Star-moulding.
Stars,Star-moulding, Arch. An ornament of the Romano-Byzantine period, in the shape of a star with four rays only. (Fig.627.) It is met with as a decoration in various mouldings.
Fig. 628. Statera.
Fig. 628. Statera.
Fig. 628. Statera.
Statera, R. A steelyard or Roman balance, of much later invention than the scales calledlibra. It consisted (Fig.628) of a rod or yard (scapa), divided by equidistant points (puncta), and was suspended by means of a handle (ansa) consisting of a hook or chain. The weight (æquipondium) forms a counterpoise to any object suspended from one of the hooks or the scale (lancula). (Fig.418.) The term is sometimes looked upon as a synonym ofLibra(q.v.). It denotes besides (1) a wooden bar or yoke placed across the withers of a pair of horses harnessed to aBijugus(q.v.); (2) a plate or dish, probably of circular form.
Statuettes.Small statues in bronze or porcelain for the decoration of rooms. ForPorcelain Statuary, consult Jacquemart’sHistory of the Ceramic Art.
Stauracin(Gr.σταυρὸς, a cross) was a silken stuff figured with small plaincrosses; hencepolystauron, having many crosses.
SteatiteorSoapstone. A soft, unctuous, magnesian mineral, used by the Chinese for statuary and decorative purposes.
Steel, Engraving in, was invented during the present century. The process is nearly the same as engraving in copper. (SeeChalcography.)
Stega, Gr. and R. (στέγη, i. e. a covering). The deck of a ship; a synonym forConstratum(q.v.).
Steganography, Gr. (στεγανὸς, secret). Cypher, or secret writing, by substitution of signs for letters.
Fig. 629. Steinkerque.
Fig. 629. Steinkerque.
Fig. 629. Steinkerque.
Steinkerquewas a twisted necktie, and owed its origin to the battle of that name fought in 1692 by Marshal Luxembourg against William of Orange. When the French princes were suddenly ordered into action, hastily tying their cravats—in peaceful times an elaborate proceeding—they rushed to the charge and gained the day. In honour of this event ladies also wore their lace neckerchiefs twisted in this careless fashion. Steinkerques became the rage, and were worn in England and France by men and women for many years afterwards. The engraving represents the Grand Dauphin of France wearing a Steinkerque.
Fig. 630. Greek Stelè.
Fig. 630. Greek Stelè.
Fig. 630. Greek Stelè.
Fig. 631. Roman Stela.
Fig. 631. Roman Stela.
Fig. 631. Roman Stela.
Stela,Stelè, Gr. A pillar, or stone of a cylindrical or quadrangular shape, often surmounted by an ornament in the form of a palm. Thesestelæserved to mark out burial-places. Fig.631represents a Roman, and Fig.630a Greek stelê.
Stemma, Gr. and R. (στέμμα, i. e. that which crowns). Among the Greeks this term served to denote a wreath bound round with woollen fillets; among the Romans the same term denoted a long roll of parchment ornamented with garlands. This roll contained the genealogy of the family.Stemmatawere hung upon the busts of ancestors, and in front of theimagines majorum.
Stencil.A plate of any material in which patterns have been cut out. The use of stencil plates is of great antiquity. They were used in the schools of ancient Rome to teach writing, and by the emperors for affixing their sign manual to documents.
Stereobate.The base of a plain wall. (SeeStylobates.)
Stereochromy.A new method of wall painting, with water-colours sprinkled over with fluoric acid, adapted permanently to resist all the influences of climate.
Stereo-graphy(στερεὸς, solid). Geometrical drawing of solids on a plane surface.
Stereoscope.A binocular glass, arranged in conformity with the natural convergence of the sight of each eye to a focal centre. An object is photographed twice, as it would appear to each eye if the other were closed; and when the two pictures are looked at together in the stereoscope, an effect of rounded solidity (stereon) is produced. The effect is particularly beautiful in photographs of statues.
Stereotype.Solid type, obtained from a cast of the forme of movable type, for permanent use in printing works of which many editions are required.
Steyre, O. E. A stair.
Stiacciato, Ital. Sculpture in very low relief, less thanbasso-relievo.
Stibadium, Gr. and R. (στιβάδιον). A circular dining-couch generally made of wicker-work. Another name for it wasSigma.
Sticharium, Chr. (στιχάριον). A white tunic worn by the Greek bishops and deacons in certain ceremonies.
Stigma, R. (στίγμα, lit. a mark by pricking). A mark, impression, or brand. Thieves were branded with the letter F, which stood forfur, thief. Astigmatattooed on the arm was the mark by which conscripts were declared capable of military service, &c., hence
Stigmata, Chr. The marks of the five sacred wounds on the hands, feet, and side of Our Lord; said to have been miraculously printed on the persons of saints.
Stil de grain.(SeePinks.)
Still Life.Inanimate objects.
Stilted Arch.One having the capital or impost mouldings of the jambs below the level of the springing of the curve, the moulding of the arch being continued vertically down to the impost mouldings.
Stilus,Stylus, R. A style, or instrument of bone, ivory, iron, bronze, or silver, about five inches long, having one end pointed, and the other flattened like a spatula; the latter served either to spread the wax on the writing-tablet, or to erase by smoothing down what had been written upon it; the other and pointed end served for writing upon the wax-covered tablet. The term also denoted (1) the needle or index of a sun-dial; (2) a bronze needle; (3) a probe employed for garden purposes. (4) A sharp stake in a pitfall. It was also calledgraphium.
Stimulus, R. (στίζω, to prick). A goad for driving cattle.
Stipple.Etched imitations of chalk drawings of the human figure, calledengravings in stipple, have a very soft effect, but are inferior to engraving. In this variety the whole subject is executed in dots without strokes on the etching-ground, and these dots are bitten in with aquafortis. The dots may be harmonized with a little hammer, in which case the work is calledopus mallei. In the method known asmezzo-tinto, a darkbarbor ground is raised uniformly by means of a toothed tool; and the design being traced, the light parts are scraped off from the plate by fitting instruments, according to the effect required. (SeeEngraving.)
Stips, R. A small bronze coin, equal to the twelfth part of anas, or about a quarter of a farthing; it bore on the reverse the prow of a vessel.
Stocheion, Gr. A form of sun-dial. (SeeHorologium.)
Stockingswere introduced into England with knitting in 1501, when Queen Elizabeth was presented with a pair of black knit silk stockings by her tirewoman, and immediately discontinued the cloth hose she had previously worn. The Scotch claim the invention of knitting, and a French company of stocking-knitters established at Paris in 1527 took for their patron St. Fiacre, who is said to have been the son of a King of Scotland. (SeeNetherstocks.)
Fig. 632. Stola. Costume of a Roman Matron.
Fig. 632. Stola. Costume of a Roman Matron.
Fig. 632. Stola. Costume of a Roman Matron.
Stola, R. (στολὴ, lit. an equipment). The robe worn by Roman matrons; it consisted of a wide tunic with long sleeves. It came down to the ankles or feet, and was confined at the waist by a girdle, leaving broad loose folds over the breast. The pallium was worn over thestola. It was the distinguishing dress of the Roman matron, and themeretricesor divorced women were forbidden to wear it. Thestolawas also worn by a certain class of priests. (SeePallium,Toga.) (See Fig.632.)
Fig. 633. Stole.
Fig. 633. Stole.
Fig. 633. Stole.
Stole, Chr. This term, a synonym oforarium, denoted, with the early Christians, according to Fleury, a piece of fine linen which was worn round the neck. It was used as a kind of pocket-handkerchief, long before the introduction of Christianity, by the Romans, who named it indifferentlylinteolum,strophium, andsudarium. In the Christian Church it is represented by a narrow band of embroidered stuff, and worn over the left shoulder by deacons; and across both shoulders by bishops and priests. It is sacred to the memory of the cloth with which the Saviour is alleged to have wiped away the sweat from His face as He passed to the Crucifixion. (SeeSudarium,Orarium.)
Stone Ochre.A pigment. An earthy oxide of iron. (SeeOchres.)
Stone-ware.(SeePottery.)
Stopping-out.In etching, arresting the action of the acid on the fainter lines of a plate, by covering them over with a preparation calledstopping-ground, while the deeper and broader parts corrode. (SeeEtching.)
Stoup, Chr. A small niche with a basin, at the entrance of a church, placed there for the holy water. O. E. A kind of tankard. (See Fig.615.)
Stragulatæ.Striped or barred silks; 13th century.
Stragulum, R. (sterno, to throw over). A general term to denote any kind of covering used for bed-clothing, or a covering for men, horses, or beasts of burden, and thence a caparison.
Strap-work, Arch. A form of architectural ornament, by the tracery of a narrow band or fillet in convolutions similar to those that a leather strap thrown down at hazard would form. It is characteristic of the Renaissance period.
Fig. 634. Strasburg Porcelain. Open-work Basket.
Fig. 634. Strasburg Porcelain. Open-work Basket.
Fig. 634. Strasburg Porcelain. Open-work Basket.
Strasburg Porcelain.The manufacture of this ware, which was begun by Charles Hannong about 1721, became very celebrated for about sixty years. (Consult Jacquemart’sHistory of the Ceramic Art.) (Fig.634.)
Strasburg Turpentine.A varnish made of the resin from the silver fir (pinus picea), diluted with naphtha, drying linseed, or nut oil.
Strena, R. A new year’s gift or present made on the calends of January.
Stria, R. The fluting of a column.
Striated.Fluted like a column.
Strigilis, R. (stringo, to scrape). A bronze scraper for the skin, curved and hollowed like a spoon, used in the bath. The same term is used in architecture for a fluting which resembles the bath-strigil in form.
String-course, Arch. A narrow moulding projecting from the wall of a building in a horizontal line.
Stroma,Gr.(στρῶμα). A Greek term synonymous with the LatinStragulum.
Strontian Yellow.A pale canary-coloured pigment.
Strophe(στρέφω, to turn). In Greek poetry, the first division of a choral ode, of which the other parts were theantistropheand theepode.
Strophium, R. (στρόφιον, lit. a thing twisted). (1) A long scarf which the Roman women rolled into a band, and fastened round the body and breast. (2) A girdle for the same purpose, generally of leather. (3) The term likewise denoted the cable of an anchor. (SeeOrarium.)
Structura, R. (struo, to build up). A general term for any kind of masonry. (SeeOpus.)
StruppusorStrupus, R. A rope or other fastening by which the oar is attached to the thole (scalmus).
Stucco, It. A fine plaster, for covering walls, prepared by various methods, as a mixture ofgypsumand glue; or white marble, pulverized with plaster of lime and mixed with water; theopus albariumof the ancients.
Stump, for drawing in pencil or crayon. It is a thick roll of strong paper made into a kind of pencil, and used for rubbing over lines to soften them down for ground tints, gradation of shading, &c.
Stylites, Chr. (στυλίτης). “Pillar saints.” Anchorites of the early Church who passed their lives on the top of a column, in order to give themselves up to meditation. There were some of them in Syria down to the 12th century. They derived their name fromστῦλος, a column.
Fig. 635. Stylobates.
Fig. 635. Stylobates.
Fig. 635. Stylobates.
Fig. 636. Stylobates.
Fig. 636. Stylobates.
Fig. 636. Stylobates.