Impastatura
A specialized workshop term used by Rino Giannini for an introductory finishing operation carried out with pneumatic hammer, gradinetto, and chisel.
Italian Terms
Smeriglio
An abrasive stone or abrasive medium available in different grades and used to smooth and refine sculpture surfaces during levigatura.
Gradino
An Italian toothed stone-carving chisel, closely related to the gradina, used for shaping and finishing sculpture.
Cala a spingere
A variant of the traditional cala positioning system used with a pointing frame, documented for transferring measurements in bas-relief.
Messa ai punti
The traditional process of transferring measured three-dimensional reference points from a model to a block of stone so the copy can be carved accurately.
Cala
A traditional positioning system used with compasses in marble pointing to establish and transfer principal reference points between a model and the stone.
Centina
A traditional positioning system used with compasses to transfer measured sculptural points from a model to stone.
Punto vero
A precise measured point on the model that represents the intended final sculptural surface and can be transferred to the stone during pointing.
Spuccettatura
An early reduction operation in model-based marble carving in which the block is trimmed down before the main roughing and pointing stages.
Gradinetto
A small toothed finishing chisel used with hand or pneumatic percussion for controlled refinement of marble surfaces.