New-York tribune., 1879-10-27
THE rANAGRA FIG URINEs.

n LII lfA FROM FREDERIC NOkH Dt-i AlDiNU AuEn.
TO the Edttor Or The Tribune.
SIR: No archaeological discovery ever ere
atec freuzy N the generally wril-baanced minds
OF anuquarians as the discovery In Of the
metropolis I,nagra. IN Heona. OF a host Of small
terra-cOtta fgIrines, or which were inside the
graves, and oiA1s seemed TO have been scattered
around the tomns "a vOuve offerings. Though these
specimens typical OF high Grecan art. yet every
Museum every collection, public or private. made
point securing - them. and such the DE-
mand that agricultural pursuits were abandoned for
several years. and the only turned mp Were
there a chance OF sliking q sepu chre. The mine
was soon exhausted and only about 1000 were found
which considered Authentic, though fragment.
without number picked up snf .tIcK tog thor by
the natives whica shows tlat the traditions
Of pure Greek AK llye not descended IN direct ue 10
the modern TUoHans.
Few months ago -mo collection o. tAesc stafuttes,
twenty-t.rea m number we're brought here fiom Paris
hv Mr.. Fcu rl,nt After having remained In New-
York they were secured for tine Boston Museum. aud
the Spontaneous interest was created among Aose
who nnd never seen any before had been manifested
iu Europe on their discovery. Books were written.
mlsHz ne articles printed ana new p.ptF "th-' pn-
published. boz h IN NewNn nfk ana Boston ieW uiYs
more important collection was pl coi on eNAiD'-
cause of fhe rurious nfatuatiou produced by these
heurne@ will Oe OF interest 10 your reader.
Their priucipa charm consists IA the fact that they
are completely different from any other antiques We
Know Inc cain frin~f OF huiiAut ~ D'i' i'f
ny NiyactV ana movement ar an gu ECU t ~" I
he first - these stauetie- ~ Eng ano
They the emDod mcnt o. momentary acton aHd
t.-.i"iF Mp,.on a'r'i, 10 ~ f- fi p.,,i,,'s
Afhruaus still must have had rather good iasie IN Dress
and some very stylish girls among their women.
parr % the vesfigc antique civilization which might
have come down 10 u.s. Masterpieces oi art ia metal
only m thousand. some invaders or hl--al
origin fouRd at Kor-n. the Black sea. very large
brought together hv The Milhrdgtes. They were
a melted lp to make bells and coins Exquisite IeNr-
tlr .,.'ie o' 'hr -e"t.i' ~, ~ i,, r t9 r,
Dul The articles prot'cird 9y ,lautc OF uf suP
~ w ..os a. |.' .,,, -a rr.re- tnnr 20 bnry iewelr.
nifh dead reiatlye tAeY d4l n N the most economical
Wv NOS ie n.yi1a special objects manufactured Of
- I'm ,,lfai aud rroeucir,r ihe greatest n ct for
tne price, aud funeral Jewery constitutes niue
frfn- 0i tlr antique Jewels 10 museums ini collections.
1,,,,r., ,it-. libO vears r. e. that is. during fnsf
rrroG at wIcu Greek art reached it, apo-rti Wa rue
fahn rn bury with tne rrnf sfatuetts N generally
i,ri, f,r sntrh would keep tne deceased. co ompnny-
for l. NEUROLOGICAL idea O- future e was very ul-
certafu-ard they provided their cead with jewell.
money wine gram aud companions, the images OF
-ncu a. t.ey Ind loved best iu life. But, alas. the
fuurrea ampAurn we're II special make aul ncid uut
fTle vine: the bowls ~ gram had false bottoms tine
r,yelry " ght and statucttes tie companions
are not ol The nGhest grade OF arr, except 10 thtF
had a terrible dread OF death, which for them vas
nlWavs associated WITH tue idea OF lmmublilf.
fops of the trees breeze until they dis
.upeared through natural causes, Indians do
". thew were persuaded that the dead relative would
not object have things made htue llVeiy around
nim ana 10 thi- many OF their religious funereal
Iitcs may be traced. They also Lu q vouve -Ari-
iues ia the trees the grave. which would SWING
about: some had whistles and trumpets ~ their
mouths wh,rh would sound IN the wind. These
guIlue~. 0fftu only WIKI marAs or head, were ct4rd
O4ci .r (lscillsIing h-ulrsl and have often been
faken for -earecrOWs, though their object vas more
fuuereal tnau agricuitur1L
FOR tnese REASONS nave this Jolly little crowd of
tue peuple-all fail 0f action and lie. some
rc biologists tried ind iu them the representation
Of d vinties but think they repres friends
ative OF the dead th@ heads are mOoeled Dy
portraits; the bodies stamped ia mOulds out
show evident trace u having been hand unis"ed a
few have wngs and may represent gem, Oul lhcy
10 more divues tnan tine plaster cupldr so 0fien
soen On the t0mbs II children IN France. These
stafuette- were cnbOratr!y COlOred aud still show
nces OF the pigments usec and o gold on bands Ia the
hair, which still refaius strong evidence OF tie
fashionable amn-f-coiOred hair Of the bWOlan women
80 traces gold bracelets or fans Tie ngufes,
IN most cases. In outdoor walking costume ana 40
they knew not gloves those days, tue hands are DELI
sometimes 10 Ii thrown the mead ~ mood AT
others IL falls In graceful folds. Fans 0f lotus leaves
and .Ine cOuca add 10 the auny lOos OF mauy
of tue aides some quite dignred and have i tie
listlngue about which recalls TIE tnuuEnt oI
Narsp Dubarri and the " Precr uses " OF the Hotel
Kanboulet. Tne not 80 stylish as the women.
Dat n fl-y had clothes Ike they would no doubt
LOOK genemanly enough An interesting lot oil goods
round u Prank tombs also Oh exhibition, hut h- Is
m ore than en ough for one time. tRKDERIC NORs.
kc-1- FORK Oct. o. 1879.