Miniver

Description

An obsolete term for an animal hair used to make a soft, fine-pointed brush that is similar to sable. Some think the term refers to ermine (Pinney 1999). Ermine is the white winter fur of the weasel Mustela erminea.

Synonyms and Related Terms

ermine (Mustela erminae); hermine (Fr.)

Sources Checked for Data in Record

• The Dictionary of Art, Grove's Dictionaries Inc., New York, 1996

• Zora Sweet Pinney, 'A Handle on the Terms used for Artists' Brushes', unpublished glossary, 1999