1)72 Egyptian Jewellery [Feb. 11, 



of the falcons and centrepiece is far better than the stiff frame 

 border of the Dahshur pectorals. In this respect this work surpasses 

 all that was known, and is apparently the finest piece of minute 

 colour inlay that has been preserved. None of the greatest modern 

 jewellers will attempt to execute such work, on any terms. 



The later Egyptian jewellery, skilful as it is, never reached such 

 perfection again. The bracelets of King Aahmes are coarse by 

 comparison. The dagger of King Aahmes is of much interest for 

 the inlaid design of gold lines in dark metal— a fashion also well 

 known at Mykenye. The royal axes were also in relief -designs with 

 coloured inlays. 



Under Rameses II. some skill in design is still seen, but the work 

 is much less delicate. Still later, about 600 B.C., inlaying of glass 

 set in gold was practised ; and a little vulture, no larger than the 

 little finger, has over two hundred separately cut and mounted 

 feathers on it. A favourite form of fine metal work in the later 

 ages was inlay of gold in bronze, as in the large figure of the Athens 

 Museum. 



Thus we may say that as the Egyptian excelled in the grandeur 

 of his architecture and the marvellous precision of his stone work, 

 so also in the most delicate detail he exceeded all that has been done 

 in other lands, supreme in his greatness as well as in his minuteness, 

 bevond the scale of all other men. 



[W. M. F. P.] 



