64 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS 



drawings, diagrams and photographs. Reference was also made 

 regarding the value of the study of pottery, to the economist, the 

 chymist, the historian and the ethnologist. 



The earliest specimens of prehistoric pottery, in shape, resemble 

 vegetable forms — for example, the gourd, the pitcher plant and the 

 acorn cup, also bulbous plants — so much so, that from some specimens 

 of pottery which have stood the ravages of time, we can trace some 

 aboriginal plant forms. The diagrams of prehistoric pottery were then 

 explained, particular attention being called to the Pueblan and 

 Mexican as being a connecting link between earthenware and stone- 

 ware. An animal form, which was either a toy whistle, or one 

 used as a signal in times of war was specially commented on. 

 Certainly this instrument, which is the property of Mr. Kennedy, 

 produces a volume of penetrating sound quite out of proportion to 

 its size, and would probably be heard two miles distant. 



A diagram showing the potter's wheel and kiln was then shown, 

 such as was used by the Egyptians nearly 3000 years B. C, taken from 

 the sculpture on the tomb of Beni Hassan. It would seem that 

 however universal the production of vessels of baked clay (terra 

 cotta) the art of applying to them a vitrous covering was an invention 

 which emanated from the East ; Egypt, Assyria or Babylonia glazes 

 being of two kinds, " Silicious " or glass glaze, and " Plumbaceous" 

 or lead glaze. The use of tin for a white enamel, as recently 

 discovered in the enamelled bricks and vases of Babylonia and 

 Assyria, anticipated by many centuries the rediscovery of that process 

 in Europe during the 15th century, and shows the early application 

 of metallic oxides, which for centuries was the secret of the East 

 only. 



Egyptian. — In Egypt and Assyria, enamelling is frequently more 

 used than glazing, and their works are a kind of " faience," consisting 

 of a loose frit or body to which an enamel adheres, after only a slight 

 fusion. Specimens of enamel turquoise, never before or since 

 equalled, have been found in the tombs of Egypt, but only on small 

 articles which could be used as jewellery. 



Grecian. — Greek wares are characterized by perfect form, such as 

 modern potters would give all their worldly possessions to even 

 reproduce. They may have been glazed with a thin coating of 

 aluminous soda-glass (without any trace of lead in its composition) 



