old Dutch marble
A comb marble pattern executed by placing the
colors on the size in a particular sequence and
manner. The four colors, red, yellow, green, and
blue, are placed in a series of small pots which
are set in a frame so that they stand in a row
about 3 inches apart from center to center. The
total number of pots of color is determined by the
length of the rake, which must be as long as the
trough is wide. Two rakes are used in the
execution of this marble; the first takes up the
colors so they may be dropped on the size with
precision, while the second is used to put the
Chinese white on the size. The red is dropped
first, and the second rake is then dipped in the
Chinese white and lowered onto the surface of the
size, each peg of the rake dropping a spot of the
white onto the red, which has already spread out.
The points of the first rake are then dipped into
the pots of color and then placed on the surface
of the size so that a single drop of color is
placed as near the center of the white spots as
possible. A stylus is then drawn through the
center of the colors from front to back of the
trough, followed by a fine or coarse comb which is
drawn through the colors from left to right,
causing the pattern to form with well distributed
colors in even scales of red, white, yellow,
green, and blue. Although probably a more
mechanical pattern than virtually any other
marble, the Old Dutch has been used since about
the middle of the 17th century. The marble is
executed on a size of GUM TRAGACANTH . See
also: DUTCH MARBLE
. (217 , 269 )
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