ENGRAVING 281 



state of what is termed biscuit, and are ready for use-, unless they are required to be 

 glazed, in which case they may be clipped into a semi-liquid composition of siliceous 

 and other matters, ground in water to the consistency of cream, and the surface of the 

 articles which are so dipped becomes covered with a thin coating of the glazed 

 composition ; then the articles are again put into saggers, and subjected to a second 

 operation of firing in another kiln, the heat whereof vitrifies the composition and gives 

 a glassy surface to the articles, all which is the usual course of making glazed earthen- 

 ware or porcelain ; but for articles formed by the new process, a suitable glazing com- 

 position is more usually applied within the saggers, into which the articles are put 

 for the first firing, and the glazing is performed at the same time with the first burning, 

 without any other burning being required. Or, in other cases, the composition of the 

 earthy materials which are chosen for the articles may be such that they will become 

 partially vitrified by the heat to which they are exposed in the kiln, and thereby 

 external glazing is rendered unnecessary. 



The great contraction which must take place in drying articles which have been 

 moulded from clay in the moist state is altogether prevented, and consequently all 

 uncertainty in the extent of that contraction is avoided. Tiles, tesserae, and other 

 articles are now made by this machine; and very beautiful pavements are constructed, 

 excelling the finest works of the Komans in form, in colour, and in all the mechanical 

 conditions. 



It will be evident that any pattern can be impressed upon the clay by having a 

 mould with the pattern in relief upon it. In some cases the coloured clay is placed 

 in the depressed portions of the tile before firing at all ; in others, it is subjected to 

 the first tiring before the coloured clay is introduced. In either case, the second or 

 coloured clay, for the production of the kind of tile called encaustic, is spread in the 

 state of a cream, so as to fill the pattern, every trace being carefully removed from 

 the other part. See TILES. 



ENCHASING. The art of ornamenting gold and silver metal work with designs 

 punched out from behind, or engraved on the surface. It is also applied to enclosing^ 

 gems in the metal for ornamentation. 



ENCRINITAIi or ENTROCHAIi IKARBXiE. Marble containing the fossil 

 remains of Encrinites, or 'stone-lilies.' Much of the encrinital marble used for 

 ornamental purposes comes from the Mountain Limestone of Derbyshire. 



EUDELliIOltflTE. An old name for Bournonite, in allusion to its occurrence 

 at Endellion, in Cornwall. 



ENVIRONS or ANDIRONS. Iron racks used in ancient houses when the 

 fires were of wood, and on the hearth, to support the ends of the logs of wood. 



ENDIVE. An esculent plant, the Cichorium Endivium, belonging to the natural 

 order of the Composite. 



ENDOGENOUS. See EXOGENOUS. 

 ENDOSMOSE. See EXOSMOSE. 



ENGZilSH VARNISH. Drying oil prepared with litharge is made to dissolve 

 gum mastic until it assumes the appearance of a jelly. This is English Varnish, and 

 is used by artists for glazing, flowing freely under the brush. 



ENGRAVING, a word derived from eV, in, and ypaQu, to grave or write, is the 

 art of executing designs or devices upon metal, stones, and other hard substances. In 

 the common acceptation of the word in the present day, it means the execution of 

 such works on plates of copper or steel, for the purpose of obtaining from them im- 

 pressions in ink or some other coloured fluid. Engraving, in the widest sense of the 

 term, is the oldest of the fine arts ; at least, the Scriptures mention it before any 

 reference is made either to painting or sculpture. In the Book of Exodus, ch. xxviii. 

 v. 29, we read that ' Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the 

 breast-plate of judgment upon his heart ; ' and again, in the same chapter, Moses is 

 commanded to ' make a plate of pure gold, and grave upon it, like the engravings of 

 a signet, Holiness to the Lord.' Further on, in the 35th chapter of the same book, 

 Moses speaks of Bezaleel, the son of Uri, as a man filled with the spirit of God,_ in 

 wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship ; 

 and to devise curious works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, and in the 

 cutting of stones,' &c. Of him and of Aholiab it is said, Them hath he filled with 

 wisdom of heart, to work all manner of work, of the engraver,' &c. &c. These 

 extracts will suffice to show the antiquity of the art of incising, or cutting hard 

 substances ; whether or not it had its origin at a period anterior to the time of Moses 

 there is no record; but it is not improbable that the Israelites acquired some knowledge 

 of the art from the Egyptians during their lengthened captivity: an assumption 

 strengthened by the fact, that numerous specimens of hieroglyphic engraving, on metal 

 plates and on stone, have been discovered in Egypt and brought to this country; 

 their dates, however, haye not, in all cases, been ascertained with certainty. 



