The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1876-12-21


| first-found chamber proved to be not
fewer than $50 objects of gold and gems,
consisting Of diadems, or portions OF
diaden1s, and perfect rings, earrings,
bracelets, neclzlets, large solid coiied
arnlets, some being nearly as thick as
| ones little finger, and golden leaves
besides gold cup Gve inches and half
in diameter, and more than two inches
deep, solid, beautifully decorated with a
pattern of Egyy tan work in lines of To-
tus III rea1oalsSee, finished on the inside
with tool, and worn evidently by fire.
quent use. The rings comprise signets
of gems engraved in many cases, with
art of the highest order, and ali being
in perfect condition. There were like
wise cylinders of Babylonian origin IA a
use, some OF which have been inscribed
by Assyriologists to epochs, respectively
1000, 1900 and 600 years B. c. A very
considerable portion of the gems are
scarabei Of fine workmanship and easily
recognizable origin some of them bear
Greek letters, others characters which
are severally Egyptian or Assyrian
Not few of tho intagli are of the love
lest style. Among these we may notice
an Archaic Greek one, exhibiting Pluto
and Proserpine. This, one authority
has averred to be the finest example of
its order in existence. Another gem
bears Boreas, designed and sculptured
WITH WONDERFUL SPIRIT
On the third is naked figure, probably
Venus. Of the Egyptian aud Assyrian
periods great number Of the finest III
stances exhibit sacred subjects. The
materials are agate, onyx, cornelian,
chalcedony, jasper and sard. This lnrge
discovery of engraved gems is likely, we
understand, to affect the conclusions ar
rived at by experts in regard to some OF
the most important bearings of the sub
Ject to which these students are devoted
to throw quite unexpected light on the
history of the glyptic art, and to correct
many judgments hitherto held unchal
lengeable. Some OF the old ornaments
are ct hardly inferior value in history
and art to the gems. Among these sew
eral are declared equal to the best Etrus-
can examples in design and execution,
where comparisons can be made between
chosen works. This class OF relics in
clgdes objects, probably fibrle, which
are enriched with snperbly wrought
Chimerae, rosettes and honeysuczle-l like
decorations of Greek fashion, but sub
iect to a decided and obvious Assyrian
influence.
SOME ARE OF SOLID GOLD.
some of silver on gold, some of gold on
silver. some of gold on bronze q few
are OF hollow gold. Some comprise ena-
mels in the filing in OF the petals of
flowers and the eyes of the climere, a
material which has been illustrated in a
similar service with regard to certain ar
ticles OF bronze discovered III one Of the
other chambers The only objects not
wholly of gold which occurred in the
first chamber were three beautiful rock
crystal amphore, mounted in gold, q
very large signet ring, or stamp, and ;
other rings OF the same material; a neck
lace of rock crystal beads alternating
with golden ones, and having pendant
of rock crystal shaped like bottle In
the second room the objects, $50 in num-
Der, were all of silver. This large dis.
coyery of works in that metal would,
simply on account Of the material en-
ployed, be of the highest antiquarian
Importance, for, owing to the pelishable
nature of silver, works formed OF it are
extraordinarily rare, This find is like
wise, however, especially noteworthy for
the number of its examples, the beauty
OF the art employed on many of them,
the fine condition of some, aud the pc
cnliar circumstances of the case. The
moro important specimens consist Of
about thirty vases, paterae, cups and
vessels Of other forms; some of these are
SO much oxidized that they crumble TO
the touch, others distinctly retain the
brilliancy Of the metal and its whiteness.
Some of the relics are enriched in re-
poussee and other modes of decoration
There are more than sixty bracelets
most of these terminate in heads OF asps,
as in Egyptian works of this order,
which they closely resemble. Some Of
these armlets are
MORE THAN A POUND IN WEIGHT,
and the whole compris es every variety,
whether for the use of men, women, or
children. There are also amulets, ear
rings, fibulaa and spoons, besides two
beautiful belts enriched with gold and
ornamented in an Assyrian mode. One
of these seems to have been woven in
silver wire, and was, probably. flexible,
but it is now, by oxidation, fused into
what may be called plates of various
lengths and extremely brittle nature.
There are fragments of six or seven cups
with. on their inner surfaces, engraved
work, which is most like Egyptian. II
we may judge by the bulk of the frag-
ments, as massed by oxidation, there
can be but little doubt that in this place
were about one hundred cups the fra s.
ments lie one il the other in layers, as
they were piled. Among the most i'm
portant specimens are two large patern,
in o wonderful state Of preservation,
each having a central boss, which is in
closed by a fiat ring, both boss and ring
l.. e IL