XXVI. THE FIRST WINTER MEETING. 



Exhibits. 



By De. C. March: 

 Irish Straw -tlaited Devotional Crosses. — Dr. Colley March showed and 

 described two examiiles of tlie straw -plaited cross, structurally resembling a 

 fylfot, still used by the peasantry of Ireland for devotional purposes. He read 

 an extract from a letter from Mr. E. Standeu, of Owen College, Manchester, 

 who said " These curious crosses appear to be in regular use in some of the 

 remote Antrim glens. The peasant women when working in the fields will i^luck 

 some green rushes and plait them into a cross and say their prayers before it in 

 some quiet comer. They also carry them to the chapels and pray to them by the 

 graves of their- dead, and afterwards leave them on the grave." 



By Nelson M. Eichardson: 

 A Sextuple Sgeafiato ok Fuddling Cup. — It consists of six cups an-anged 

 in a triangular form communicating with each other at the lowest part, with 

 twisted bands surrounding them on the outside, three handles, of yellow and 

 green ware, highly glazed. The sgrafiato ornamentation, incised through the 

 glaze, shows brown, and consists of five large tulips, one rose {':), and two 

 stars (?). The inscription is as follows : — 



" No star so bright 

 As you, my delight. 

 1743. E.H. 1743." 



The locality of manufacture is uncertain, but Staffordshire is suggested. In 

 Hodgkin's book of inscribed Early English pottery, which he exhibited in 

 connection with this " Fuddling cup," it has been endeavoured to include all the 

 pieces of pottery of the 18th century or earlier which say anything about them- 

 selves by inscriptions. He mentioned cups more or less similar to the present one 

 of dates 1730, 1752, 176G, and 1770, with various inscriptions, all different. 



" Fill me of sidful and drink 



The gift is small, but good will is all." 



" Fill me for your ease 

 Drink what you please." 



" FiU this cup 

 And drink it up." 



" My friend is He that love me well 

 But Ho he is I cannot tell." 



A great many grotesque and curious articles were made of pottery at this date, 

 but very few have survived to our times, and now that is very highly valued 



