ACCOUNTS, &C., OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 23 



(3.) Italian Majolica. — A very choice collection, consisting of 106 specimens, many of 

 which have been cited in Foi'tnum's work on the Majolica in the South Kensington 

 Museum. Among them should be noticed several plates with metallic lustre, painted by 

 Maestro Giorgio Audreoli of Gubbio ; an early plateau of CafFagiolo ware ; a very fine 

 dish, probably made at Pesaro, with a female head, Lucia bella ; a highly finished plate 

 with the death of the Vii'gin, after Martin Schoen ; a deep saucer with Our Saviour in 

 the Tomb, made at Faenza ; a plate, with monogram at the back, representing the 

 heroism of Mutius Scaevola ; a large plate with the triumph of Galatea, by Niccola da 

 Urbino ; and a good iustred specimen, by Francesco Xanto. 



(4.) Rhodian Ware. — A very remarkable series of this pottery, principally made in 

 Rhodes during the 16th century; numbering 51 specimens. Among them may be 

 noticed a lai-ge jug with a Turkish inscription ; numerous bottles, jugs, and dishes, 

 richly coloured, and exhibiting in most instances the red pigment in relief, which serves 

 to characterise thisware. 



(5.) Damascus Ware. — Thirty specimens. This is not unlike Rhodian pottery, but 

 exhibits greater force of colour and some peculiarities in tints and drawing, by which it 

 can be distinguished. The specimens of this ware in the collection are of the choicest 

 character, especially in one peculiar class, of which the exact origin is still considered 

 doubtful by some, but of which the prices are very high ; to this class belong a lamp, two 

 candlesticks, a bottle, and several plates. There is likewise a small series of the later 

 wares made in Anatolia. 



(6.) Persian Ware. — This includes the silicious ware of the Persian factories, and a kind 

 of soft porcelain; in all 71 specimens. The oldest examples are wall tiles of the 13th 

 and 14th centuries, one of them from Veramine, and probably made about 1260. 

 Another, dated a.h. 709 (a.d. 1310), with very fine inscriptions in relief. The predomi- 

 nant colour in the vases is a brilliant blue, sometimes enriched with ornaments in metallic 

 lustre. One very choice specimen is in an Italian mount of gilt metal, added to it in the 

 16th centuiy. Among the specimens of soft porcelain may be noticed some snowy white 

 bowls, with ornaments pierced and filled in with glaze, good examples of the ware 

 known in England in former times as Gombroon ware. 



(7.) Historical Relic. — A pair of silver snuffers with medallions in gold, enamelled with 

 the arms of King Henry VIIL, and of Cardinal Bainbridge, for whom no doubt they 

 were made Avhile he was Ambassador from England to the Pope. He died in Rome in 

 1514. These snuffers have been engraved and described in the Archaeological Journal, 

 vol. X. p. 172, as well as in the Catalogue of Works of Art, exhibited at Ironmongers' 

 Hall. 



(8.) Russian Silver Work and Enamels. — Forty-two specimens, among them is a bowl of 

 silver gilt and enamelled, used in Russia to wash the beards of high ecclesiastical digni- 

 taries ; two other bowls and a casket, all enamelled ; a fine silver goblet with inscription 

 round the rim ; several shallow one-handled cups, one of them of crystal, mounted in gold 

 and set with emeralds ; another of alabaster, mounted in gold filigree with jewels ; others 

 of silver, embossed or inlaid with niello. Two candlesticks of rock crystal, set in 

 enamelled copper. 



(9.) Oriental and Venetian Metal Work. — Ninety-seven specimens, chiefly bronze, and 

 mostly inlaid with silver and sometimes gold. This very remarkable series exhibits 

 specimens of a varied character and origin ; some of them made in Mesopotamia, Egypt, 

 and Syria, during the 13th and 14th centuries ; among these are four incense burners, in- 

 laid with silver, one of them dated a.h. 641. = a.d. 1243 ; a circular casket of similar work 

 with the name of Badr-uddin Lulu, King of Mosul, a.d„ 1 233-1259. An incense ball made 

 for Badr ad-Din Baisari, Emir of Egypt, between 1277 and 1279 ; a large dish, probably 

 made for the same person, two fine caskets and other specimens. The 14th century is 

 represented by five bowls inlaid with silver, a dish with European arms in the centre, 

 and two candlesticks evidently made in the East for Europeans. To the 15th century 

 may be ascribed a series of covered boxes, a dish and some incense balls. Of a some- 

 what later date, are two dishes of exquisite arabesque work, inlaid with silver, bearing 

 the name of the artist, Mahmud Ibn-al~Kurdi ; a box and cover of still finer work, a 

 large bucket and four dishes, possibly made by Oriental workmen at Venice. Of un- 

 questionable Venetian workmanship, are two candlesticks inlaid with silver, five large 

 dishes covered with engraved designs, and an ewer. 



The skill of the Persians in engraving and inlaying metal with gold and silver is well 

 exemplified. Among them should be specially mentioned three covered vases inlaid with 

 gold and silver, with passages on them from the Persian poet Hafiz; one bears a date 

 corresponding to a.d. 1511 ; a bottle and a large bowl, excellent examples of engraving, 

 with poetical inscriptions. To a more modem period belong two lamps and two vases of 

 pierced work, and several specimens of steel inlaid with gold ; among them two birds 

 with the name of their maker, Hadji Abbas. Of Indian origin are bottles and other 

 specimens of Bidree ware, inlaid with silver and gold ; a very fine silver box with an 

 inscription in Sanscrit, and a cojiper vase with figures in silver. There are likewise in 

 the collection a silver horn, or tantour, and amulets, worn by the Druse women of the 

 Lebanon, a Siamese bowl, and an enamelled bowl of Turkish workmanship. 



170. c 4 (10.) Oriental 



