The New York herald., 1879-10-01
FINE ARTS.

DE MORGAN COLLECTION OF GREEK AND FRANK
TIcLE--THE RELICS FROM PRANKIsH ToMBs.
The second portion of the De Morgan collection
OF Greek and Frank antiquities exhibition
at Feuardent Co.'s. consists of large number of
relics found in the tombs of Merovingian warriors
OF the sixth, seventh and eighth centuries.
by Mr. Henri de Morgan. during the three
years in which he superintended the work
OF excavation in tho Valley of Brese. near
the village Of Blangy- -Basle In Normandy. They
were in part exhibited at the Paris international Ex
position of 1878. and are coins. pieces Of jeweiry
other personal ornaments. arms and pottery. Tho
hrst discovery was mado the planting of an apple
orchard Further examination developed the fact
that the locality was that of an ancient Frankish
cemetery which had an extent of some three
1t hillside. amphitheatric in form and facing
the east thus allowing the heads of the dead to face
the rising sun. as was the custom.
In the graves and tombs no defensive body armor
was found and few shields This fact shows the
tempt which these fierce barbarians had for their Ro
foes clad from head to foot in armor OF bronze
They did not that which could have been
taken from the Romans who were killed About
one-third of the dead women. In their graves
jewelry. pottery and often long knives which
shows that they able to defend themselves on
occasion. The arms. which are in all of iron
and heavily rusted, consist of battle Cs'dn-
cisques spears 0Tamees. short swords (scramGsecs.
long swords (tpees) poniards and arrows Cleches).
All the pointed arms grooved to allow OF their
being poisoned. In this connection it will be
membered by students OF history that the
sion OF the assassination Of Pretextatus Bishop Of
Rouen, on February "a, A. u. 55S. Fredegonda
dered that the poniards be grooved deeper than
usual in order that the poison should assure NOR
tai wounds.
Ir order that tho manner in which tho reYica vvoro
found may be clearly understood, one set has been
arranged over an outline Of skeleton. The Objects
from the richness OF some of them, evidently
the property of chief At the head is the battle axe
and at the neck necklace of multicoored glass
boads Then comes the fiat bronze brooch, in the
form Of dragon. which fastened the upper garment
the shoulder. Four buckles placed below
The largest. Of bronze. and ornamental in shape.
fastened across the breast the baldrc which
held the short sword. The next, OF solid silver is
of ordinary one-pronged shape of to-day. It
probably held belt, from which hung the poniard.
smaller one OF the same material held belt, from
which depended the six pieces which lie by it-a
bronze depilatory instrument, fire flint, made out
Of prehistoric knife. and four instruments Of iron
whose use is unknown The fourth buckle. larger
than the two silver ones is OF solid gold and
1t is of triangular shape, has three round bosses
the and raised triangle in the centre.
secured % the belt to which the purse was attacned
for by it three coins silver counterfeit of the
time. piece Of billion and one OF bronze. Near
these lies iron clasp of the purse. which still has
pieces of the cloth of which the latter formed
c!inging to 1t. silver ornament probably decor
ated OF the belts. In their proper positions by
the above specimens lie the short sword, poniard
the silver end of the sheath Of the latter boss
or shield There are in addition seven arrow-heads
large lance-head ard at the feet remnants OF two
damascened iron sandal buckles and a small black
pottery vase.
sizes and forms. The typical shape Is similar to
that of o modern woodaxe elongated, and is very
thin near the handle: Another Is a modification Of
this FORM In which the lower curve from the blade
to the handle is more gradual. The third form,
much rarer. resembles a meat chopper. OF lance
heads there about fifty of various shapes.
Some long and thin, others broad and
thick, and still others have couple of short hooks
near the handle and remind of halberds. The
hooks used to draw cavalier of his horse. The
snort swords, Of which there are some eight ten,
have thick blade backs and look like butchers knives
The long swords found were very fragile account
OF the excessive rustng and there is but in the
collection. 1t has double edged fiat blade three
feet long and short handle. There many pom
iards a. these arms found with nearly ali the
skeletons. In size they range from six inches to
that of the short swords. which they resemble
il form and from which it difficult to separate the
larger specimens. OF arrow heads there seven.
III length from threo to FIVE inches. Pieces OF the
wooden stick still remain in the shanks. Two have
four sides and the others laininated. There are
the remains OF the iron portions OF two shields.
These were of wood and covered with skins. They
had iron stifening bars radiating from a central
piece, which, projecting in front. was ornamental
and served as hand guard. These guards were
studded with brass nails. The two specimens
eight inches diameter and shaped like short cylin-
ders terminating in cones.
The Jewelry aud other personal ornaments may be
divided into the four classes of objects in gold and
silver naid with colored glass cnamels glass bead
necklaces; iron work. damascened in gold and silver
and the articles in whtish bronze. In the first class
have hairpns. earrings. brooches. rings and
buckles. number of the brooches in silver
gilt and represent parrots, whose eyes and
tails are inlaid with colored glass. Another
form is that Of q horse. Other specimens are
ornamented with fligree work and colorcd glass
cdbochon The large rings OF some of the earrings
terminated at one end by modified dodecahedra,
whose sides are inlaid with glass They are Of
both gold and silver. The second class is
composed Of glass beads both transparent
and Opaque; in shape chiefly cylindrical
and square, and varicolored and striped.
They resemble much those of the Phenicians. Ono
is OF amber beads in q rough state. In the third
class the objects chiefly belt and sandal buckles.
while the fourth comprises engraved brooches and
buckle, well hairpins, needles and even fish
hooks. Three coins arc of unknown origin. Finally
the collection contains twenty pieces OF pottery
jugs and vases in black and white, which resemble
those found in the lacustrine dwellings and in the
Indian mounds of thus country.