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

Orders of Knighthood. (See Knighthood.)

Ordinary, Her. An early principal charge of a simple character.

Oread. A mountain-nymph.

Oreæ, R. (ora, the mouth). A snaffle-bit for horses.

Oreiller, Her. A cushion or pillow.

Oreillettes, Fr. Ear-pieces on helmets; 15th and 16th centuries.

Orfrays. The gold, silver, or silk embroidery on rich garments, chiefly sacerdotal ornaments. The term has two derivations; some derive it from aurum Phrygium, because the Phrygians, who were excellent embroiderers, were considered to have invented the style; others take it to be from aurum fractum (broken). In mediæval Latin the term for orfrays was aurifrigia, aurifrisa, aurifrisus, and aurifrixus.

Fig. 510. Regals or Portable Organ.

Organ. Organs are said to have been first introduced into France, A. D. 289, from Greece. A large organ existed in Westminster Abbey in the 10th century. Portable organs called also Regals were also common. The antique organs had no key-boards, which were introduced in the 11th century, simultaneously with the invention of the musical stave. (Cf. Hydraula.) The Regals or portable organ is an attribute of St. Cecilia. (Fig. [510].)