Silver point
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Description
1) A silver tool used for drawing in Metal point. When a silver mark is made on a ground, the metal particles 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 Images
15th century style silver point
Silver point
Resources and Citations
- Thea Burns. The Luminous Trace: Drawing and Writing in Metalpoint. London: Archetype Publications, 2012.
- 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