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

Asp. In Egyptian art the emblem of royalty; in Christian art, under the feet of saints, of conquered malice.

Aspectant, Her. Looking at one another.

Asperges, Aspergillum, Chr. The rod for sprinkling holy water.

Aspersed, Her. Scattered over,—the same as Semée.

Aspersorium, Chr. The stoup, or holy water basin.

Asphaltum. A brown carbonaceous pigment used in painting. It is found in various parts of the world, more particularly in Egypt, China, Naples, and Trinidad. The best is the Egyptian. (See Bitumen, Mummy.)

Aspic. (See Oil of Spike.)

Ass, Chr. An emblem of patience and sobriety; but also of idleness and obstinacy; sometimes of the Jewish nation.

Ass, Festival of the. A grotesque Christian festival of the Middle Ages, connected with the prominence of the ass in religious history.

Asser, R. (1) A beam, pole, or joist. (2) The rafters of a wooden roof. (3) Asser falcatus was a kind of ram which was launched, with the aid of machinery, by the garrison of a fortified town, against the enemy’s siege works.