46 
THE PRINCIPAL FLOOR. 
our survey by describing the objects which will be found in the 
central area. 
The most striking object seen on entering this part of the 
Museum is the large Siberian vase (No. 1) which stands 
immediately in front of the staircase. 
CENTRAL CASES AND MODELS. 
Vase of Siberian Aventurine. — Bequeathed by Sir It. I ' 
Murchison , Bart., K.C.B., F.R.S, No. 1. 
This handsome vase was presented in 1843 by the Emperor of 
Russia, Nicholas I., to Sir R. I. Murchison in recognition of his 
services in exploring the geology of part of the Russian Empire. 
The material of the vase is a micaceous quartz-rock, passing 
into aventurine (p. 112). The flakes of mica are arranged in 
irregular bands running obliquely across the oviform body of 
the vase, whilst the whitish colour of the stone is relieved by 
iron-stained patches, of brown and yellow tints. A mottled 
pink variety of quartz-rock forms the base of the vase, which is 
distinct from the body ; and the whole is supported on a hand- 
some pedestal of grey porphyritic rock. The materials of both 
vase and pedestal were obtained from the hills of Bieloretsk and 
Korgon, a dependence of the Altai Mountains, and were polished 
in the Government of Tomsk. The vase is four feet in height, 
and measures six feet in circumference at its largest part. 
Russian Steel Work, &c. — Bequeathed by Sir R. I. 
Murchison, Bart., K.C.B., F.R.S. No. 2. 
A small Table Case, standing immediately behind the Siberian 
vase, contains some interesting objects bequeathed to the 
Museum by Sir R. Murchison. One of these is an ornamental 
steel plateau, or salver, manufactured at Zlataust, in the Ural 
Mountains. This town, which has been called “ the Birmingham 
and Sheffield of the Ural,” is situated on the banks of the 
River Ai, in a romantic valley on the western side of the water- 
shed of the Ural. A view of the locality adorns the centre of 
the plateau. Under General Anosoff, the Imperial Steel Works 
of Zlataust attained great celebrity for the manufacture of sword 
blades. 
The plateau is ornamented with a border representing alle- 
gorically the manufacture of a sword, and some examples of the 
actual swords will be found in Pedestal Case No. 13. The 
plateau is formed in burnished steel richly ornamented with 
damascene work, and bears an inscription in Russ, which has 
been thus translated : — 
“ To the geologist R. Murchison, in testimony of its particular 
esteem, the Administration of Mines in Russia, Zlataust, 1843.” 
