An Illustrated Dictionary of Words used in Art and Archaeology / Explaining terms frequently used in works on architecture, arms, bronzes, Christian art, colour, costume, decoration, devices, emblems, heraldry, lace, personal ornaments, pottery, painting, sculpture, &c., with their derivations.

by John W. Mollett

Mineral Black. A native oxide of carbon.

Mineral Blue. A native carbonate of copper which is liable to change its tint to green, if mixed with oil. (Fairholt.)

Mineral Brown. (See Cappagh.)

Mineral Green. Malachite (q.v.). (See Carbonates of Copper.)

Mineral Lake is a French pigment, a kind of orange chrome.

Mineral Yellow. A pigment of chloride of lead, which becomes paler by time. The name has also been applied to Yellow Ochre and Yellow Arsenic (q.v.).

Minerval, R. A present or fee which Roman scholars took to their masters every year, on the fourteenth of the calends of April (19th of March), that is, on occasion of the festivals of Minerva.

Minever, O. E. (1) Either the pure white fur with which the robes of peers and judges are trimmed—“minever pure;” or (2) the ermine with minute spots of black in it—minutus varius—in lieu of the complete tails; or (3) the fur of the ermine mixed with that of the small weasel. (Consult Planché’s Cyclopædia; see also Vair.)

Miniature. Literally, a painting executed in minium (vermilion). Now used for any small picture, and especially for a small portrait.

Ministerium, Chr. All the sacred ornaments and utensils of a church taken collectively.