prøvestykke

Prøvestykke is a term in Danish (and Norwegian) meaning "test piece" or "touchstone." It refers to a physical sample used to determine the quality or fineness of a material, especially precious metals such as gold and silver, but it can also denote a standard against which other items are judged. In practice, a prøvestykke can be an actual prepared piece or surface used in testing, kept by jewelers, assayers, or metalworkers, or it can be used metaphorically to describe a benchmark.

Etymology: The word combines prøve ("to test") with stykke ("piece" or "section"), yielding "test piece." Historically, the concept is linked to touchstones—dark stones used for testing metals by abrading the surface and observing color changes or using chemical tests. The Danish term is thus rooted in the broader tradition of standard samples used in metal fineness assays.

Historical use: Test pieces and touchstones were essential in the metal trade from early modern times onward. They provided a practical method to verify fineness, compare against known standards, and ensure consistent carat or fineness marks. The practice supported trust in weights and measures in commerce.

Current usage: Today, prøvestykke remains a standard dictionary term for a test piece or benchmark. It can appear in technical contexts in jewelry, metallurgy, or material testing, and it also functions figuratively as a benchmark of quality or as a symbol of a decisive test of merit.