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

Runcina, R. A carpenter’s tool of the nature of a plane.

Runco, R. A hoe.

Runes, Scand. Magical inscriptions in a character believed by the northern nations to have been invented by Woden. “The Runic alphabet,” says Mr. Wheaton, “consists properly of sixteen letters, which are Phœnician in their origin.... They are only Roman, with the curves changed into straight lines for the convenience of engraving on hard substances.” (Hist. of the Northmen, p. 61.)

Ruskie, Scotch. A coarse straw hat; a basket or beehive of plaited osiers or straw.

Russells, O. E. A kind of satin.

Russet. A red grey colour; violet mixed with orange. Its complementary is green grey.

Rust (oxide) of iron. “The best rust” is mentioned in a list of colours of the 17th century. (Brown, Ars Pictoria, Appendix, p. 5.)

Fig. 597. Rustic Work. Bossage.

Rustic Work (Fr. bossage). Ashlar masonry, the joints of which are worked with grooves or channels to render them conspicuous; sometimes the whole of the joints are worked in this way, and sometimes only the horizontal ones. (See Fig. [597].)