The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1877-04-07

of beautiful designs. These vessels are of
the greatest variety of shapes the forms
being often imposed by the shape OF the
crystal itself We begin with description
Of most exquisite piece of art---a mirror,
resting on a high stem, also Of crystal, of
u spiral form. The mounting of this mir
ror is worthy of Cellini, to whom it has
been attributed The diameter of the
crystal itself is six inches and half.
Nothing can surpass the purity Of the
crystal or the elegance Of the mounting.
The foot is adorned with eight exceedingly
well drawn NEUROLOGICAL figures in en-
bossed work, Of which Pheton, Daphne,
Jason aud Ceres, with Stellio, may be dis
tinguished; the others are not so evident
The second in rank is a goblet with a
cover. 1t measures twelve inches in height,
and three quarters in diameter The
tasteful mounting and ornamcntation Gin
particular that of the Roman soldier on
the cover) make the vessel one Of the best
types for imitation. 1t seems an Italian
work Of the sixteenth century, From the
sixteenth to the seventeeth century galleys
Of rock crystal were much in vogue; their
use, beyond serving as ornaments for the
sideboard, has not yet been clearly made
out. There are several specimens Of gal.
lcys here, the most important one being
sixteen inches in length; it rests upon
monstrous animals, has two handles and is
richly mounted in gold and enamel On
the sides scenes from history and mythol-
ogy are cut with great skill. On the
largest piece the fable of Perseus and An.
dromedu, and Phryxus, and Helle are
carved on another the Rape of Helen
and Apollo, and the Muses. The rock
crystal goblet of DIR. Martin Luther was
given by the great Rcformer as present
to a Dutch refugee, DR.. Niven, of Leyden.
1t remained in the hands of his descen.
dants at Hittau, whence, at the extinction
of that family, the municipal council of
the town made the goblet over to the
Green Vaults. The vessel measures fifteen
inches; its mounting is rich and peculiar,
inasmuch as it has on its lid the Braden.
burg sceptre, twice, repeated one above
the other, fanked by spread wings, the
upper sceptro rising from close hemlet
There are two crystal drums to this goblet;
the upper aud smaller one has some paint
ed aJacus between gilt pilasters; the larger
drum has broad gold band at its top,
with engraved arabesques The foot is of
a handsome form, and has its ornaments
in perforated work laid upon solid metal.
The spiral columns, of twenty-five inches
high, are rare, but still rarer are globes
like the one here exhibited, which, in size
and purity, surpass all known; its dame
ter is seven inches. Among the many
vessels with tasteful designs cut in the
crystal, one of the most remarkable is an
ever nine inches and three-quarters high,
and eleven inches and three.quarters in
diameter 1t is of a spheroidal form, and
is covered with deeply engraved cinque
ceato arabesques, springing from the trunk
and the limbs Of grotesque, Caliban-like
figure, which is represented as clinging
with its legs and arms to the back of the
vessel the head and shoulders, with wings,
are of gold, enriched with enamel, as also
are the handle and foot, The handle is
particularly worth observation, on account
of the bold curve, the grotesque masks,
and the setting of the precious stones.
The records of the collection name this
work as the production of Giov. Bait.
Metelino, of Milan, to whom, in the ar
chives, many articles in rock crystal, of
the museum, are attributed, but for whose
history we have yainly gone through many
books of reference.-The JeEeIier