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

Quicksilver, alloyed with tinfoil, forms the reflecting surface of looking-glasses, and is largely used in the operations of gilding and silvering metals.

Quilled, Her. A term used to blazon the quills of feathers; thus a blue feather having its quill golden is blazoned—a feather az., quilled or. (Boutell.)

Quilts for bed-coverings, in England, were formerly made of embroidered linen with emblems of the evangelists in the four corners. At Durham, in 1446, in the dormitory of the priory was a quilt “cum iiij^or evangelistis in corneriis.” The Very Rev. Daniel Rock (Textile Fabrics) suggests that this gave rise to the old nursery rhyme:—

“Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John,

Bless the bed that I lie on.”

Quinarius. A Roman coin = half a denarius, or five asses.

Quincaillerie, Fr. A general term for all kinds of metallurgical work in copper, brass, iron, &c.

Fig. 571. Quince. Device of the Sforzas.

Quince, Her. The “Pomo cotogno,” the emblem of the town of Cotignola, adopted by the founder of the Sforza family who was born there. The Emperor Robert of Bavaria added a lion in 1401 as a reward of an act of bravery, to “support the quince with his left hand and defend it with his right,” adding “guai a chi lo tocchi!” (Fig. [571].)