A double-ended hand rasp with forged profiles used to smooth, refine, and delicately shape marble after chisel work.
Raspa is a sculptor’s rasp. The Pietrasanta source describes a finely tapered double-ended tool whose ends may be forged flat, curved, convex, or in other shapes. Smaller rasps have finer cutting surfaces.
It can follow the chisel and ferrotondo during smoothing, but can also define delicate passages such as eyelids, nostrils, and lips.
Etymology
Italian raspa, “rasp.”
Sculptor Notes
A rasp is slow enough to refine subtle passages but aggressive enough to alter form. It should clarify a transition rather than simply soften every edge.
References
https://levocidelmarmo.sns.it/scheda_oggetti_relazione.php?denom=raspa&id=22