Fine Stone Miniatures : Dictionary (R)

Martin and Oliver Webb Fine Stone Miniatures. Museum quality handmade miniatures of stone carvings for the collector and connoisseur.
	A Stonemason's Dictionary A pocket dictionary of masonry terms, names and expressions

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Raised Lead Lettering: A type of memorial inscription in which small holes are drilled in the stone’s face, then pieces of lead are hammered into them leaving a thin wafer of lead covering the surface of the area of the letter. The letter’s outline is then cut out from the lead wafer.

Rebus: An architectural pun, the representation of a name through (often) ironic symbolism.

Relieving Arch: An arch built inside the wall above the arch forming the opening of a window or door to relieve the load place upon the visible and lighter arch.

Renaissance Architecture: General term for architecture of the 16^th century.

Reredos: A decorated wall covering or screen behind the alter.

Respond: Half pillar or corbel at the end of an arcade built against the wall to support the last arch.

Retabulum: A painted wooden reredos.

Retaining Wall: A wall built to withstand the lateral pressure of earth behind it.

Retro-Choir: A part of the church beyond the presbytery, east of the high alter, but not the Lady Chapel.

Return: A change of direction in a moulding, such as a cornice.

Reveal: The flat area within the thickness of the wall between the frame of a window or door and the face of the wall.

Reveal Pin: A small threaded jack which attaches to the end of a scaffolding pole. Its name derives from the fact that it can be used to extend and anchor to the inside surfaces of a window reveal.

Rib: Arched section that supports the vault

Romanesque: Architectural style of the Saxon period, characterised by round arches.

Rood: The cross of Christ

Rood Screen: Stone or, more usually, wooden screen dividing the nave from the choir

Rose-Window: A circular window that is built of tracery.

Rotunda: A building circular in plan.

Rough Back: The crudely cut back of the stone which is built into the thickness of the wall.

Roundel: A round disc or panel. As in a stained glass window

Rubble: Walling made of random pieces of stone.

Rustication: Masonry in which the joints and beds are dressed square, but the face left rough.