8 
THE MONUMENTAL BRASSES OF WARWICKSHIRE. 
cretionary structure in a greater or less degree of perfection 
of development on some part of the specimen. A few 
specimens of the brown haematite of cone-in-cone structure 
seem to be closely allied to a concretionary formation. 
(To be continued. J 
THE MONUMENTAL BRASSES OF WARWICKSHIRE. 
BY E. W. BADGER, M.A. 
At first, perhaps, an apology seems needed for the appear¬ 
ance of a paper on this subject in the “ Midland Naturalist,” 
but a moment’s thought will remind our readers, first, that 
this publication is the organ of the Midland Union, which 
includes several Archaeological Societies, and next, that 
Archaeological notes have already from time to time appeared 
in these pages. 
Only a few short prefatory notes on Monumental Brasses 
in general will be given here; those who wish complete 
information on this subject are advised to consult the 
Rev. H. Haines’ “ Manual of Monumental Brasses,” the 
Rev. C. Boutell’s “Monumental Brasses and Slabs of the 
Middle Ages,” and Messrs. Waller’s “ Series of Monumental 
Brasses.” 
A monumental brass may be described as a plate of brass 
with an effigy or inscription or both engraved upon it, inlaid 
in a stone slab, and firmly fixed there by being imbedded in 
pitch and rivetted. The earlier specimens usually take the 
form of effigies ; later brasses are generally quadrangular. 
At the head of the figure a canopy is sometimes placed ; and 
armorial bearings, evangelistic symbols, and other ornaments 
are not uncommon additions. The accompanying inscriptions 
are found on scrolls, on strips of metal placed round the edges 
of the slab, but most often on plates at the feet of the effigies. 
The engraved plates were sometimes gilt, but generally 
burnished, and the incised parts were filled up with a black 
or coloured resinous substance. 
The plate of which brasses are made, and the art of 
engraving them, w 7 as probably brought from Flanders or 
France ; indeed, some of the early brasses in England, on 
comparison with existing Continental examples, betray unmis¬ 
takable marks of foreign production. Foreign brasses 
consist of large quadrangular plates, engraved with elabo¬ 
rate back-grounds and certain conventional ornaments; 
English brasses represent effigies without backgrounds. With 
