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high. It has on its front a medallion of " Cupid Shaving 

 his bow," after Correggio, which, with the heads, &c., is gilt. 

 The other two, one of which has the handles and festoons, 

 and the other the medallion, in white, are from my own 



collection, and are excellent and characteristic examples. 

 In the collections of Mr. S. C. Hall, Mr. Mayer, Mr. Marjori- 

 banks, Mr. Rathbone, and others, as well as in different 

 museums, may be seen splendid examples of vases, &c., in 

 this beautiful material. 



Of the black ware or basaltes, an infinite variety of 

 goods was in the course of a very few years produced. 

 Of a dense and compact body, hard enough to strike fire 

 when struck on steel, capable of receiving and retaining a 

 high polish, untouched by acid or metal, bearing a much 

 more intense heat than the stone itself, of the deepest and 

 purest colour, and yet having a surface as soft, delicate, and 

 smooth as an infant's flesh, this material was capable of 

 being moulded and used in a variety of ways, and of pro- 

 ducing works of the highest and most exquisite order. 



