ACCOUNTS, &C., OF THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 2^ 



A life-size bronze head of Socrates, probably Italian work of the 16th centurj ; 

 bequeathed by Kichard Clemson Barnett, Esq. 



A specimen of majolica made at Alcora in Spain, a kneeling figure in terracotta of 

 St. Francis, and a tile from the Mosque of Omar ; presented by the Rev. Greville J. 

 Chester. 



(5.) Glass Collection. — A PhcEnician scarabaeus, an early Greek intaglio, and a saucer 

 of Greek filigree glass from Crete ; presented by A. W. Franks, Esq. 



Twenty specimens of glass from Egypt, and three from Crete. 



Roman cinerary vase, and bottles, found in tombs at Salona, Dalmatia, presented by 

 Charles West, Esq. 



A glass hand grenade, from Cyprus ; presented by the Rev. Greville J. Chester. 



Forty-five specimens of Venetian and German glass, many of them of fine quality, 

 obtained at the sale of the collection of the late E. W. Cooke, Esq., k.a. 



Four specimens of Venetian glass and one English ; presented by A. "W. Franks, Esq. 



(6.^ Oriental and Ethnographical. — The most important additions under this head are 

 those obtained from the India Museum, which will be noticed separately. 



Among the others may be mentioned four panels of carved ivory, with the name of 

 Muhammad Ibn Kalaoun, Sultan of Egypt, 1279-1290; and an Oriental astrolabe 

 of the 14th century. 



Indian mace of steel, plated with silver, terminating in a tiger's claw ; and two sets of 

 pachisi men of rock crystal, one of them mounted in gold and set with jewels; presented 

 by A. W. Franks, Esq. 



An Indian figure of brass, found in the lough near Belfast ; presented by T. 

 W. U. Robinson, Esq., F.S.A. 



Three enamelled bricks from the ruins of the porcelain tower at Nankin ; presented by 

 Captain T. G. Mead, r.n. 



Ten Peruvian vases of rare designs ; presented by Edward Ford North, Esq., in accord- 

 ance with the desire of his Excellency the late Don Pedro Galvez, Peruvian Minister 

 in London. 



Fragments of pottery, probably ancient Chinese, found in a cave in Borneo, and 

 presented by the Committee for exploring the caves of Borneo. 



III. — Antiquities from the India Museum. 



In the last Annual Report it was stated that it had been arranged with the India 

 OflSce that various ancient sculptures from the India Museum should be transferred to 

 the British Museum, but that as the transfer had not been completed before the close of 

 the year 1879, they would be noticed in the Report for 1880. 



The sculptures and antiquities in question may be divided into the following heads : — 

 1. Sculptures from Northern Afghanistan, &c. ; 2. Sculptures from the tope at Amara- 

 vati ; 3. Miscellaneous sculptures of various dates ; 4. Antiquities from the topes in 

 Afghanistan ; 5. Copies of the paintings in the Ajanta caves ; 6. A few ethnographical 

 objects. 



(1.) The sculptures from Northern Afghanistan are of small size, carved in a schistose 

 sale, which while preserving its sharpness is apt to split off. The carvings have 

 been obtained from the ruins of Buddhist buildings near Peshawur, and chiefly from 

 Jamal Garhi in the Yusufzai District. The style of art which they exhibit is very 

 remarkable, showing a strong influence of classic design, and derived probably from the 

 Bactrian schools of art. 'I'heir exact date has not yet been fixed. Tliese specimens 

 were presented to the India Museum by Major General A. Cunningham, Captain Blair, 

 Colonel H. C. Johnstone, Mrs. Eustace Smith, and Jumes Fergusson, Esq., d.c.l., p.r.s. 



These antiquities have been temporarily placed in four glass cases in the entrance hall, 

 and on pedestals by the side of the principal staircase. 



(2.) The ruins of the great Buddhist tope at Amaravati were excavated by Colonel 

 C. Mackenzie in 1816, 1817, who sent a few specimens, about eight in number, to tliis 

 country. Further excavations were made in 1845 by Sir Walter Elliot, K.C.S.I., who 

 transmitted to England more than 100 specimens (excavated by himself or previously 

 collected), where they arrived in 1856. The tope and its sculptures have been described 

 and admirably illustrated by Mr. Fergusson in his work on Tree and Serpent Worship, 

 1868 and 1873. The material of which they are composed is a kind of limestone or 

 marble, very liable to decay ; and the sculptures have suff"ered much under the various 

 vicissitudes to which they have been exposed ; but they still furnish a most remai'kable 

 illustration of the art of the period to which they belong, and form a rich treasury oi 

 Buddhist iconography. Among the subjects are numerous representations of scenes from 

 the life of Gautama liuddha, as well as oi \\is jatakas or previous births. 



The sculptures have been arranged along the walls of the principal staircase, those on 

 the west end being an attempt to reproduce a portion of the great rail, and the whole will 

 be protected with glass to preserve them from further injury. 



0.65. C 4 The 



