What is pointed stone dressing?
Pointed stone dressing, in Dutch spitsen, is working natural stone with a hammer or mallet and a point chisel (also called a point or punch). It is used to take roughly quarried stone down to a more even face. The mason strikes the point with the hammer and chips away a piece of stone each time. What remains is a rough surface with visible tool marks. Pointing is one of the coarser natural stone finishes and often precedes finer dressing.
What it looks like
According to the Dutch specification terms for natural stone published by the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands, the appearance of pointed work depends on:
- The direction. Work can run in one direction or in several.
- The number of blows. This determines how rough the surface becomes.
- The angle of the tool. If the point is driven out of the stone at an angle, it leaves a furrow. If it is struck straight into the stone, the Dutch speak of prikwerk, a pitted, punched finish.
- The distribution of the blows. Continuous furrows across the face give a ribbed finish. Blows spread evenly over the face, not in line with one another, give a picked finish. Sometimes the marks form a pattern, for example a fan shape.
Application
- Specify the finish precisely. Just “pointed” in a specification is too vague. State the direction, density and whether it is ribbed or picked.
- Use sample panels. In restoration work, have a sample made and compare it with the existing stone under raking light.
- Allow for material loss. Pointing removes stone; order blocks with enough oversize.
- Protect eyes and hands. Sharp chips fly off; wear safety glasses and gloves.
Common mistake: setting sawn or machine-finished stone next to pointed work when replacing historic stone. The difference in texture will always remain visible.
Related terms
- Natural stone finishes
- Stone dressing
- Punched stone finishing
- Bush hammering
- Batted stone finish
- Hewn stone
- Chisel
- Natural stone replacement
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