Porcelain and Earthenware. "237 



and from Phenicia in particular, wine secured in earthen jars, not one 

 of which jars is ever after seen ; for the principal magistrates collect 

 all that are imported and send them to Memphis. The Memphians 

 fill them with water, and afterwards transport them to the Syrian de- 

 serts." From Juvenal, who wrote in the 1st century of the Christian 

 era, 500 years after Herodotus, it appears that earthenware was then 

 made in great plenty in Egypt. Images covered with a deep blue 

 glaze have been found enclosed with mummies, in a number of Sarco- 

 phagi, which is conclusive evidence, that the art had advanced to a 

 very considerable degree of excellence nearly 2000 years ago ; the 

 blue being found on examination, to be a preparation of cobalt, the 

 identical materia] employed by the potters of the present day. Gov. 

 Pownall, describes certain vases and urns discovered on the Mexican 

 coast " as curious exemplars of some of the first efforts of human in- 

 genuity ;" and adds " that remains of ancient potteries are visible in 

 various parts of South America, particularly on the river Amazon." 

 Mr. Parkes states, that "urns of Earthenware have been found in the 

 barrows of England, supposed to have been the workmanship of the 

 ancient Britons," and some have been imagined from their peculiar 

 form to have been designed for Druidical rites. Pieces of a rude 

 ware of Roman manufacture, have been drawn up by fishermen, in 

 the mouth of the Thames, where 2000 years ago there was an island, 

 which has disappeared with the changing sands of that coast. They 

 were evidently designed for use in the religious ceremonies of the 



Romans. 



Vessels of earthenware have been discovered in the Tumuli of 

 the valley of the Ohio and its tributaries.* Those for domestic use 

 were found deep in the mound, where duty and affection had placed 

 them for the comfort of the endeared relation or friend ; while oth- 

 ers with emblematical designs, probably connected with idolatrous 

 worship, hallowed the grave of the unknown race, with whom they 

 were enclosed ; and every sepulchre of a hero is made the temple 



of a god. * 



The mystery and concealment observed by the Chinese, in regard 

 to their manufactures, kept this art from the rest of the world, long 

 after they had arrived at a great degree of perfection. Specimens 

 of Chinaware # and the lacquer called japannery, were found both in 

 China and the Japan islands, of excellent quality, by the earliest Eu- 



# Archaeologia Americana. 



