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

Vamplate (Fr. avant plaque). A guard of metal over the handle of a tilting-lance.

Van (from Fr. avant). Of an army, the front.

Vandyke-brown. A pigment of a fine, deep, semi-transparent brown colour obtained from peat.

Vane, or Fane, O. E. (from the German Fahne, a banner), (1) A broad flag to be carried by a knight in a tournament. (Meyrick, i. 155.) Hence (2) a weathercock, in Mediæval buildings generally in the form of a heraldic banner supported by a figure. (See Fane.)

Vanishing Point. In perspective. (See Point of Sight.)

Vannerie, Fr. Basket-work.

Vannus, R. A winnowing-van; i. e. a broad flat basket used for winnowing the chaff from the corn. It was among the agricultural symbols borne in the processions of Ceres. A sculpture in the British Museum represents the infant Bacchus riding in such a basket in the hands of a pair of dancing bacchantes.

Vantbrace. (See Vambrace.)

Vaquero, Sp. A jacket worn by women and children.