Porcelain and Earthenware. 937 
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 Ist century of the Christian 
era, 500 years after Herodotus, it appears that earthenware was then 
made in great plenty in Egypt. I:mages 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 material 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- 
* Archeologia Americana. 
