The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-12-23

or deliberately engraved From another cham
Der were taken more than 800 articles in silver
and silvor.gilt. consisting OF vases in divers
shapcs. goblets. bowls. dishes. massive armlcts
and bracelets. the latter for the most part tcrmi-
mating in asps' heads, and weighing in some
cases over pound. And. finally. n third cham
ber was stored with great quantity Of statuet-
ties, and vases in bronze and terra Gotta, COM
prising many priceless specimens Of Greek
plastic and ceramic work.
There Is no doubt that the discovery of the
treasure OF Kurum was a vcrtahle revelation Of
the development Of the Glyptic art in its rise
and progress from the earliest times down to
the beginning Of the lith century before our era.
An attempt is made In an appendix to this vol
ume so to classify the various families Of gems
rs to Illustrate their connection and trace their
evolution into complete perfection. n state for
tunately Just attained whom the whole accumu-
ation of generations was consigned in panic to
its long hiding place. Among the evidences OF
Assyrian domination are three carvcn gold
cylinders of high importance on account OF
their ancient date and excellent workmanship.
One OF these dcsignates itself the signct Of the
servant Of Narnni-Sin.' and may be regarded
without any great strainng OF probabilities as
tho Offering Of some Assyrian Official stationed
in the Island as Resident at tho court Of some
tributary prince. We know that II was GUS
tom at Nincveh TO deposit such cylinders rs
memorials. The superb illustrations Of Pho
nicnn work among the Kurium gems explain
why Homer when he has occasion to mention
any ornament Of special elegance assigns
liz authorship to some god, or else to the
Sdonians. which probably meant the same
thing. II may be pertinently asked however,
why so many scarahWi in this collection boar
INK regular Egyptian types should be ascribcd
to Phcnician artists. and what are the tests cm-
poycd for discriminating the two manuiac-
lures. According 10 Mr.. King. an authority Of
unquesuOned competence in these matters. tho
distinction rests on two ohscrvations-of mate
rial and OF execution The scarabei found
in the mummy cases Of deceased Egyptians ara
generally cut in soft stone; the graver Of Sidon
and Tyre preferred harder substance. Again.
the figures OF animals on gems from the Nile
valley are merely parts Of one hicroglyphc
legend. whereas I'm rhenician work the hicra,c
figure. whether OF god. hawk. or sphinx. has
lost its conventional stiffness and its symbolic
significance. il drawn correctly and carved
with precision that proves tho mechanical
part Of the cngrnyer's crnit had reached do
gree Of perfection never aitcrward cNcecd
These Pheucian works we're plainly the
models followed by the primitive Greeks. and
il way well he that some Of the iuiaei Of mystic
devices classed in this book with the Sldunian.
ara really the achievements Of Cyprotc art -t-.
II ia certain that the indsputably Greek gems
comprised among the vOtiye pledges of kurium
form only small proportion OF the whole. But
those few are Of extraordinary merit. ami in
cluln Incompatible specimens Of both branches
Of glvphics. namely, engraving in metal. and In
hard stones Two intagli of the latter class.
Ill. u
carrying Off Orithyia. are thought to surpass in
every point Of artistic value any gem work pro-
yiousy known In the archaic style Not less
remarkable is the Victory" with great wings,
in tho so-called " Perfect style which. from the
complete knowledge of drawing displayed.
cannot be referred to period much anterior
10 the concealmcnt OF the treasure. The
subjects again Of many carvings tell us that
these were the sign,ts Of ladies. and it ia not
perhaps unreasonable To- see IN these precious
Jewels the last offerings Of Cypriote matrons TO
their tutclary goddess when ON the fatal day
Of Amathus the cowaI lice OF the Prime. of
kurium turned the scale in favor of the Per-
slams. and hope of earthly aid had vanished
with the death OF the gallant Onesilos. But
from whatever sources the Treasure was de-
rived II Is VOL suggested that a measure ~
gratitude is due from us to theanricnt guardian
who. when b. saw no chance ~ os ape from
the barbarian i.unnrlasis then pressing tho
siege 500 iugoniou-iy hii hI- -lrr'i trust inr the
instruction and enjoyment 90 an ago parted by
four and twenty centuries from his own.
Cen ID Cosnola has laid tho world Of cdu-
Gated AMI thoughtful man under heavy ohhga-
Mons. H. mas earned the thanks az ONO II
artists and II scholars. indeed Of all who have
learned 10 comprehend under the broad term
N history the multiiorm manifestations OF So
cial iorce ANA creative genius. Nor should Wa
forget Ia record the fact that il was lng To- "a s.
determination TO keep the collections in one
body under his own name. and to reserve them.
II possible, Tor his adopted country. that tho
trustees OF tie New York metropolitan Museum
Of Art were successful in thoir efforts To secure
them NJ ". II.