When, by force of time and patience, the work had thus been finished to the degree required, there would often remain some little irregularities of surface, due, for example, to the presence of nodules and heterogeneous substances, which the sculptor had not ventured to attack, for fear of splintering away part of the surrounding surface.

In order to remove these irregularities, another tool was employed; namely, a stone cut in the form of an axe.

Applying the sharp edge of this instrument to the projecting nodule, the artist struck it with a round stone in place of a mallet.

A succession of carefully calculated blows with these rude tools pulverised the obtrusive knob, which disappeared in dust.

All minor defects being corrected, the monument still looked dull and unfinished.