02.04.26: Describing objects [9]; stone and related materials (iv); (1) Comenius (1658) LXXI; the Potter / (2) LXXIX (extract from ‘the Picture’) the Sculptor / Engraver

(1) The text is slightly adapted with some rare vocabulary omitted.

The potter, │ figulus

Sitting over a wheel, │ sedēns super rotā …

Maketh pots, │ fōrmat ōllās,

Pitchers (or jugs), │ urceōs,

Platters, │ patinās,

Pudding pans, │ vāsa testācea (see notes)

Lids &c │ opercula &c

Of potter’s clay. │ ex argillā.

Afterwards he baketh them │ posteā excoquit

In an oven. │ in furnō.

A broken pot affordeth │ frācta ōlla dat

Pot-sheards. │ testās.

[1]

argilla, -ae [1/f]: (potter’s) clay

figulus, -ī [2/m]: potter

frangō, -ere, frēgī, frāctus [3]: break

furnus, -ī [2/m]: oven

rōta, -ae [1/f]: wheel

[2]

testa, -ae [1/f]: [i] a piece of burned clay, brick, tile; [ii] an object made of earthenware e.g. a pot, urn; [iii] a potsherd i.e. a fragment of broken pottery

vāsa testācea: the translation is rather too specific

vāsum, -ī [2/n]: any form of dish, vessel

testāceus, -a, -um: [i] having a hard covering, shell [ii] covered with tiles / bricks

Although Comenius does not use it here, the adjective testeus, -a, -um describes earthenware

[3] Vocabulary related to tableware, vessels used in cooking etc. was discussed in detail at the following links:

07.12.25: Latin vocabulary: dining and cooking [3]; what’s on the table?

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/09/071225-latin-vocabulary-dining-and.html

10.12.25: Latin vocabulary: dining and cooking [5]; kitchen utensils / pots and pans

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/09/101225-latin-vocabulary-dining-and.html

10.12.25: Latin vocabulary: dining and cooking [6]; tableware

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/09/101225-latin-vocabulary-dining-and_17.html

13.12.25: Latin vocabulary: dining and cooking [7]; liquids and drinking vessels (1)

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/09/131225-latin-vocabulary-dining-and.html

13.12.25: Latin vocabulary: dining and cooking [8]; liquids and drinking vessels (2)

https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/09/131225-latin-vocabulary-dining-and_17.html

(2)

The carver │ sculptor

And statuary │ & statuārius

Carve statues │ exsculpunt statuās

Of wood and stone. │ ē lignō & lapide.

The graver │ caelātor

And the cutter │ & scalptor

Grave  (engrave) shapes, │ īnsculpit figūrās,

And characters │ & characterēs

With a graving chesil (chisel), │ caelō,

In wood, brass, │ lignō, ærī,

And other metals. │ aliīsque metallīs.

[1]

caelator, -ōris [3/m]: engraver; carver; artisan in bas-relief

scalptor, -ōris [3/m]: cutter; engraver in metal or stone

sculptor, -ōris [3/m]: stone-cutter; sculptor

statuārius, -ī [2/m]: a maker of statues

[2]

caelum, -ī [2/n]: chisel

character, -ēris [3/m]: mark, (imprinted / burned) sign; characteristic mark

Note the ablative uses from both texts:

Exsculpunt statuās ē lignō & lapide │ they carve statues made of / out of wood and stone.

īnsculpit figūrās, (1) caelō, ¦ (2) lignō, ærī, aliīsque metallīs │ he engraves shapes, (1) with a chisel, (2)  in wood, brass, and other metals.