CERAMIC COLLECTIONS. 
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largely employed on stoneware and was formerly used in the 
Staffordshire potteries for glazing delicnte ornamental objects, 
as illustrated in Wall Cases Nos. I. to V. 
A Table Case, No. 57, on the east side, contains a collection of 
materials used for painting on pottery and porcelain. These 
-consist usually of a flux, or vitrifiable substance, mixed with 
the colouring agents, which are generally metallic oxides. Some 
few colours, such as the cobalt blues, can be used on the biscuit 
ware, and are therefore underglaze colours, but most are 
employed on the ware after glazing, and are vitrified by 
subsequent firing at a very moderate temperature. 
A small but characteristic series of ancient Greek Vases will 
be found in the Glass Case (No. 70) on the bridge across the 
staircase leading from the Hall. These specimens have been 
selected, not so much for their historical and artistic interest as 
for sake of illustrating the nature of the paste, the glaze, and 
the colours which were employed in their production. 
The historical series illustrating the development of ceramic 
art in this country, though good in most departments, is by no 
means rich in very early examples. A small cinerary urn, found 
at Tarradale in Ross-shire, and placed in pedestal case No. 64, 
is a characteristic piece of ancient British pottery. Roman 
pottery is represented by a rather large collection in this Case, 
including some excellent examples of the red lustrous ware, 
commonly called “ Samian.” Many of the specimens here 
exhibited were obtained from the collection of the late Mr. 
Chaffers, and were dug up, some half century ago, during 
improvements in Cannon Street, and other parts of the City of 
London. There are also some fine examples of Roman ware 
from Castor, near Peterborough, discovered by Mr. Artis, and 
presented by the late Earl Fitz william. Much of the Castor 
ware is ornamented with scrolls and figure-subjects in relief, 
laid on in white clay or engobe. The Romano-British pottery 
of Upchurch, at the mouth of the Medway, is amply represented 
by a collection given by Mr. J. C Gooden, and exhibited in the 
lower compartments of two Cases in the Vitreous series, 
Nos. 67 and 69. 
A small collection of Roman Pottery from the Rhine, for 
comparison with that found in England, and including some fine 
examples of Samian ware, will be found in the upper part < f 
the Pedestal Case No. 64. Much of the Samian ware found in 
Britain was no doubt imported from the Continent, but it seems 
probable that some at least was manufactured in this country. 
A collection of mediaeval pottery found in Britain, principally 
in the City of London, is placed on the upper shelves of the 
range of Wall Cases I. to V. Here will be found several jugs 
or pitchers of Norman type ; pilgrims’ bottles, with handles 
perforated for suspension; “ grey- beards,” or Bellar mines, in 
brown stone w T are, with a grotesque mask under the spout ; and 
a green* glazed puzzle jug of “ Tudor ware,” dated as early as 
1571. 
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