The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1877-04-05

Uecu NK6u Oh the dressing table or dainty
lady who owned perfect maid. The gold or
naments consist Of several hbnlB Of remarka-
Bile beauty, size, and weight. three gold cylin-
GERS dellcately ornamented, quantity Of wire
fringe, buttons formed of thick gold leaf upon
foundation of wood or ivory, considerable
quanty OF loose gold-leaf, like SO much crum-
pied paper, sufficient to fill a good sized basin
and the pect0ral or head piece, which ever it
may be.
This ornament believe am correct in say
ing is one of the most remarkable examples OF
goldsmith work ever found. 1t must be re-
marked am describing an object of solid
gold, as bright and fresh, and, with the excep-
ton OF one corner, which has been slightly |
crushed, as perfect as sovereign new from the
mint. It is plate Of gold measuring about
eight inches BY five, and convex to the eleva-
ton Of about half an inch along its length, |
like board that has been slightly warped and |
upon this stand Tin rows, like cavalry drawn
up in lime, no fewer than one hundred and
thirty-one miniature statuettes Of animals
lions, horses, and chimera,-as perfect in de-
tail, and as completely modelled, almost, as if
they were the size Of life. They remind one OF
those miniature pieces of sculpture described
by Pliny. The horses are the most exquisite
creatures imaginable and not only are they cor
recty modelled in this microscopic size, bat they
have trappings of delicate Etruscan wire work
80 minute IS almost to require a magnifying
glass to distinguish them. To give as exact an
idea as possible of the manner in which these
animals are arranged, must suppose the
plate they stand upon to be so placed that the
| sides correspond with the four principal points
OF the compass. Projecting from the extreme
edges OF the two longer sides, facing, say, east
ward and westward, are, first. fifteen birds
with human faoes-syrens. Between these
birds, but placed sufficiently far back to con-
| stitute second row, are fourteen lions couch
ant, with, projecting from the centre Of their
| backs, and in addition to their own heads,
human -sphinxes-looking in the OPP
posite direction. These heads, or rather
busts, occupy the position where saddle
would be placed. Exactly behind these is
| row OF twelve lions, standing with their tails
| thrown up in curl over their backs, and be-
twes these again, in the fourth row are twelve
lions seated on their hind quarters. These four
rows OF animals, commencing from the one and
the other OF the longer sides, look, asa matter
OF course, in opposite directions-i. e., east and
ives, land are divided by a slightly raised
elevation, along the central line of the length of
| the plate, upon which are nine cOuchant liens,
four facing northward and four southwards
i while the one in the centre, the ninth, is, in
fact, a lions body with head at each extrem-
| ity. On the back ofthe lions grow heads OF
| goats 1t will be observed that while the crea-
lures in the first and second rows and along
the length are fifteen and fourteen in number,
in the third and fourth rows there are only
twelve. This leaves space at each end which
is occupied by eight horses facing north and
eight facing south, flour on each side of the
elevation along the length. The edges of the
narrower sides OF the plate are finished by q
cyndrical ornament like well relieved torsus.
covered with Greek pattern infinitely executed
in microscopic gold beads, and having lions
heads at their extremeties. At the back of this
plate along the length are twosrows of short
tubes, of the same form as the long beads
called bugles, placed at short distances from
each other Through these it is evident the
strings were passed to fasten it on to the dress;
but to what part the dress this remarkable
ornament was attached is matter of conjec-
ture it would be highly interesting to deter
mine.
It is impossible at present to make any con-
lectures as to what the infinite quantity ofivOry
fragments formed parts OF. They are suficien
to cover large table, and I'LL several trays ,anC
are of all sizes. from particles of dust to irrsg
ular pieces OF three or four inches in length
f The majority are fiat, of about a quarter of AZ
inch in thickness, covered with figures of mel
! and animals carved in low relief, and all Egyp
tian in character. No attempt has yet beer
made to put the pieces together, but there art
many sufficiently well preserved to justify thu
, expectation that at least come important part
Of the compositions may be restored. Will
: these ivory fragments are two curious orna-
: ments They are thin bronze bands of abou
an inch in width, and bent into semi crcula
9 forms, SO as to fit, one must suppose, upon tn
{ head like a fillet. The ends are formed int
delicately twined hooks, like the letter S. will
rings hanging to them, and couchant upol
each of the fllets six miniatures of statuette
ofanmas-an inch and a half in length as the
lie-carved in ivory and richly gilt with thicl
gold-ieaf much OF which, however, has COM
off There are also a number of other animal
= Of the same size, in different ositons, standing
I I'd <1,z,- l.
!. which have evidently belonged to the othe
= ornaments of the same kind. Some of thos
: are broken, but many of them are perfect, ant
!. all were gilt:
> OF the silver vases, the tazze, some are quit
: | plain, but some are richly crnamented wit
: figures of men and animals In repousse worl
: with engraved outlines, and all show comb
= nation Of the characteristics Of Egyptian an
= Asssvrian art. Interesting a. . description G
= the various subjects on these vases might Re,
must content myself with slight sketch OF on
!. ~ an example Of the others. The form is tbs
Of globe of about ten inches in diameter, frer
which the upper third has been cut away, th
diamater being therefore less at the mouth
. The figures upon it are divided into four SEP
arate horizontal circular bands, but neverthe
J less they would appear to constitute one con
: tinued subject On the upper bands are
. number of birds; upon the next below q pre-
: cession of yound warriors on horseback, eac
, carrying Two spears. 1uSy Il0e sing dLu al
!, each followed by two footmen armed wit
I, spears and shields This procession is cor
y tinued on the third band. where there are fy
= horsemen with their attendants, followed by
- parsonage standing in biga driven by a
= auriga and followed by two swordsmen. Upo
!. the fourth band are what at the first glanc'
~ would appear to be q series Of subjects, bs
= which, no doubt, together with the procession
= are separate incidents of the story represented
= There is first parsonage of distinction stand
. ing in garden bounded by tree at each e.
= trsmity. Over his head there is q heavily-lade
= grape vine-a pergola---and before him ma
= = tiling the ground. Next are two horses drlnl
- ing at q brook, and advancing toward them
- warrior huntsnan carrying two spears, a.
= holding upon his shoulder stick, from who
70 : hare hangs suspended at his back: Benin
y him are two long horned oxen following eac
J. other. These fiji about half the circle, and
!. tho remainder the warriors and footmen, see
:, in the procession are attacking number
y lions who have fallen upon herd o. iAr!
IS !. horned cattle. Within these four bands L
= circle, or medallion, upon which is Representa-
= J > man prone upon his face, with hon ssan'
= ing over him.
;, TO SUBSCRIBERS.
-