Silver point

Silver point drawing

Description

1) A silver rod with a sharpened tip. Silver points were used as a drawing tool. When a silver mark is made on a white ground, the metal particles slowly tarnish to form a black mark of silver sulfide. In the late 15th century, silver points were used to add contours and shadows (Kuhn 1986).

2) The melting point of silver (960.8). The silver point is used as the fixed point on the international temperature scale.

Synonyms and Related Terms

Metal point; pointe d'argent (Fr.); Silberstift (Deut.)

Additional Information

H.Kuhn, Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art and Antiquities, Butterworths, London, 1986.

Additional Images

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  15th century style silver point

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  Silver point

Authority

• Hermann Kuhn, Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art and Antiquities, Butterworths, London, 1986

• R. Mayer, The Artist's Handbook of Materials and Techniques, Viking Press, New York, 1981