BRITISH AND MEDIEVAL ANTIQUITIES. 73 



There is at present no room at the British Museum for the 

 display of the collection. 



5. Japanese Ivory Carvings. 



This large and important series has been on loan and 

 exhibited at the museum for some years past, it consists of 

 about 1,500 of the small carvings known as netsuke. This 

 collection is of especial value for several reasons ; it includes 

 examples of most, if not all, of the best known artists in this 

 style of Japan, and further it gives an unusually complete 

 representation of the manners and customs, the legends, folk 

 lore, and ordinary occupation and dress of the Japanese, 

 all on a conveniently small scale. 



6. Japanese Sword Guards. 



This collection numbers about 850 pieces. Its interest is of 

 much the same character as that of the foregoing section, the 

 subjects being of a similar kind, although the warlike element 

 is somewhat more prominent. In addition the various metals 

 employed show the extraordinary skill of the Japanese in 

 alloying and otherwise treating metals in an artistic manner. 



7. Book Plates, Trade Cards, etc. 



This very large series is in the Department of Prints and 

 Drawings. 



8. Books on Pottery and Porcelain. 



This portion of the bequest comprises about 370 works on 

 the subject, and forms a most useful addition to the library 

 of the Department. Several of the works are of some con- 

 siderable value; but the great importance of the bequest is 

 that the Department now possesses what was practically the 

 working library of Sir Wollaston Franks, on a subject in 

 which he took the keenest interest. 



9. Selections. 



The somewhat difficult task of selecting from among the 

 very numerous collections not specifically bequeathed, was 

 much simplified by the fact that Sir Wollaston Franks had, 

 during his life time, already presented nearly all the objects 

 that he thought worthy of being placed in the Museum 

 Collections. The selection that has been made comprises a 

 number of additions to the continental porcelain which Sir 

 Wollaston Franks had bought since the catalogue was printed ; 

 a few examples of Oriental and other wares ; a few specimens 

 of glass and of Japanese lacquer ; a number of enamelled 

 portrait miniatures, as well as charms and other curious 



