Difference between revisions of "Pencil"

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== Description ==
 
== Description ==
  
A tool for drawing and writing on paper. The first picture showing a [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=lead pencil lead pencil] appears in a 1565 woodcut as an ornate wood tube holding a tapered lead stick. The early lead pencils contained soft metallic [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=lead lead] points encased in [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=wood wood] or [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=bone bone] shafts. The marks were easily erased from [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=parchment parchment] with [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=bread crumbs bread eraser] or a soft [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=leather leather] cloth. In the mid 19th century, [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=graphite pencil graphite pencils] became more popular. The shafts of graphite pencils are made from [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=graphite graphite] mixed with [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=clay clay]. However, the earlier name of lead pencil transferred and, though incorrect, its use continued. Drawing pencils are available in several grades of hardness depending on the relative concentrations of clay, binder and graphite. 9H contains the most clay and is the hardest, while 6B contains little clay and is very soft. Standard writing pencils are graded on a scale of 1 (soft) to 4 (hard).   
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A tool for drawing and writing on paper. The first picture showing a [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=lead%20pencil lead pencil] appears in a 1565 woodcut as an ornate wood tube holding a tapered lead stick. The early lead pencils contained soft metallic [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=lead lead] points encased in [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=wood wood] or [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=bone bone] shafts. The marks were easily erased from [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=parchment parchment] with [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=bread%20crumbs bread eraser] or a soft [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=leather leather] cloth. In the mid 19th century, [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=graphite%20pencil graphite pencils] became more popular. The shafts of graphite pencils are made from [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=graphite graphite] mixed with [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=clay clay]. However, the earlier name of lead pencil transferred and, though incorrect, its use continued. Drawing pencils are available in several grades of hardness depending on the relative concentrations of clay, binder and graphite. 9H contains the most clay and is the hardest, while 6B contains little clay and is very soft. Standard writing pencils are graded on a scale of 1 (soft) to 4 (hard).   
  
See also [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=colored pencil colored pencil], [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=grease pencil grease pencil], and [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=wax crayon wax crayon].
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See also [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=colored%20pencil colored pencil], [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=grease%20pencil grease pencil], and [http://cameo.mfa.org/materials/fullrecord.asp?name=wax%20crayon wax crayon].
  
 
[[File:97.764-SC62796.jpg|thumb|]]
 
[[File:97.764-SC62796.jpg|thumb|]]
 
== Synonyms and Related Terms ==
 
== Synonyms and Related Terms ==
  
lead pencil; graphite pencil; art pencil; colored pencil; wax pencil; grease pencil; charcoal pencil; carbon pencil; blyant (Dan., Nor.); Bleistift (Deut.); lpiz (Esp.); crayon mine (Fr.); matita (It.); potlood (Ned.); owek (Pol.); lpis (Port.); blyertspenna (Sven.)
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lead pencil; graphite pencil; art pencil; colored pencil; wax pencil; grease pencil; charcoal pencil; carbon pencil; blyant (Dan., Nor.); Bleistift (Deut.); lápiz (Esp.); crayon mine (Fr.); matita (It.); potlood (Ned.); o³ówek (Pol.); lápis (Port.); blyertspenna (Sven.)
  
 
== Comparisons ==
 
== Comparisons ==
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== Authority ==
 
== Authority ==
  
* Ralph Mayer, Ralph Mayer, ''A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques'', Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing)
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* Ralph Mayer, ''A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques'', Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing)
  
* ''Encyclopedia Britannica'', http://www.britannica.com  Comment: "Pencil." Encyclopdia Britannica. 29 Apr. 2004  .
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* ''Encyclopedia Britannica'', http://www.britannica.com  Comment: "Pencil." Encyclopædia Britannica. 29 Apr. 2004  .
  
 
* Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, at http://www.wikipedia.com  Comment: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pencil (Accessed Jan. 15, 2006)
 
* Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, at http://www.wikipedia.com  Comment: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pencil (Accessed Jan. 15, 2006)
  
* Random House, Random House, ''Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language'', Grammercy Book, New York, 1997
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* Random House, ''Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language'', Grammercy Book, New York, 1997
  
 
* ''The American Heritage Dictionary'' or ''Encarta'', via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998
 
* ''The American Heritage Dictionary'' or ''Encarta'', via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998

Revision as of 07:28, 24 July 2013

23.473-C6301.jpg

Description

A tool for drawing and writing on paper. The first picture showing a lead pencil appears in a 1565 woodcut as an ornate wood tube holding a tapered lead stick. The early lead pencils contained soft metallic lead points encased in wood or bone shafts. The marks were easily erased from parchment with bread eraser or a soft leather cloth. In the mid 19th century, graphite pencils became more popular. The shafts of graphite pencils are made from graphite mixed with clay. However, the earlier name of lead pencil transferred and, though incorrect, its use continued. Drawing pencils are available in several grades of hardness depending on the relative concentrations of clay, binder and graphite. 9H contains the most clay and is the hardest, while 6B contains little clay and is very soft. Standard writing pencils are graded on a scale of 1 (soft) to 4 (hard).

See also colored pencil, grease pencil, and wax crayon.

97.764-SC62796.jpg

Synonyms and Related Terms

lead pencil; graphite pencil; art pencil; colored pencil; wax pencil; grease pencil; charcoal pencil; carbon pencil; blyant (Dan., Nor.); Bleistift (Deut.); lápiz (Esp.); crayon mine (Fr.); matita (It.); potlood (Ned.); o³ówek (Pol.); lápis (Port.); blyertspenna (Sven.)

Comparisons

Websites of pastel, pencil, and marker manufacturers

Websites of pastel, pencil, and marker manufacturers


Authority

  • Ralph Mayer, A Dictionary of Art Terms and Techniques, Harper and Row Publishers, New York, 1969 (also 1945 printing)
  • Random House, Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, Grammercy Book, New York, 1997
  • The American Heritage Dictionary or Encarta, via Microsoft Bookshelf 98, Microsoft Corp., 1998

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