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

Beveled, Arch. Having a sloped surface. (See Splay.)

Bever. A Norman word for “taking a drink” between breakfast and dinner; elsewhere called “a myd-diner under-mete.”

Fig. 84. Bezant.

Bezant, Her. A golden “roundle” or disk, flat like a coin.

Biacca, It. White carbonate of lead; a pigment.

Biblia, Med. Lat. A war engine for attack.

Bibliotheca, Gr. and R. (βιβλίον, book, and θήκη, case). Primarily the place where books were kept, and hence used for the collection of books or MSS. itself. The most celebrated library of antiquity was that founded by the Ptolemies at Alexandria, destroyed by the Arabs, A. D. 640.

Bibliothecula, Gr. and R. (dimin. of bibliotheca). A small library.

Bice. The name of certain very ancient blue and green pigments, known also as Mountain (or Saunders’) blue, and Mountain green, and by other names. (See Carbonates of Copper.)