39 



covered over by a fascia, which may be a bronze, or more probably 

 of copper. This fascia is elegantly and variously ornamented, it 

 would appear, with stamped patterns, and then simply made to fit 

 round the lead as closely as possible. 



Now, we would here point out that this was introduced to our 

 notice as of Eoman work, but in as far as we know this people did 

 not work in this fashion ; but we do know that the Saxons excelled 

 in this fascia work, of which examples are common. Here it would 

 appear that Copper was held in high esteem, and so this rather 

 large brooch was made of thin metal plates fastened together by 

 some kind of cement, and the whole kept in place by a thin ring of 

 metal, which we may see in examples from Fairford Graves. Most 

 elaborately wrought Saxon Fibulsa are formed upon this plan, and, 

 though it must be confessed that the Fibula, as an ornament with 

 the Saxon, seemed to be as important as the Armillse with the 

 Eoman, and we find the principal ornaments of the former to be 

 Fibulae, whilst, if not the principal, at least a most important portion 

 of the personal ornaments of the Roman seem to have been Armillse. 

 (Our drawing will explain the mode of workmanship.) 



It will occur to some that the Saxon was considered as a boor to 

 whom higher manufacturing skill has been denied; but they were 

 exceedingly crafty in metal work, and we claim it for the early as 

 for the modern Saxon that he was exceedingly clever in adopting a 

 new style or work to produce what was required ; in fact, the Saxon 

 has ever been one to appreciate the inventions of others, which he 

 has never been slow to improve upon, and we take it that the armlet 

 before us is an evidence not only of the skilful workmanship of this 

 people, but of the readiness which they have always displayed in 

 accommodating themselves to old forms by new processes. 



