The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1880-10-30
The Beautiful Ornaments Unearthed
from Ancient Tombs Near Naples.

LAST June we were courteously in
yited by Baron Spinelli to pay visit to
his casino, near Cancello Ga station
within three-quarters of an hour from
Naples), which he has made into =
museum for all the valuable objects he
has gathered from the crowded part of
the metropolis of Suersula already exca-
waited. Passing through fields rich in
produce, and meadows crowded with
young buffaloes and scented with sweet
clover, we arrived at the simple old
country house, which leans against an
old medieval tower. ....,-...
Ascending a broad staircase, lined
with rows Of amphore, we entered a
suite of spacious rooms filled with cases
and tables crowded with rare objects.
1t was difficult to believe that such a
quantity and variety had been found in
q piece Of ground not more than about
two acres in extent. We saw vases,
scarabei, ornaments for the neck, brace
lets, rings, brooches, on exactly the
same principle as the modern safety
pin-the sheath which guards the point
being, however, very long some with
several ends Of threads, upon which
hung few remaining beads, still adhcr-
ing; and various large ornaments, the
use Of which it has not yet been possible
to ascertain. Some of the most splen.
did are the things found in the most an.
cient graves. They consist of articles
made Of bronze, particularly personal
ornaments. They are all of exquisite
finish of workmanship, though very
primitive in their tigurative decoration
when it exceeds u mere strai ght or way.
ing line.
Several bracelets which Baron Spi.
nelli caused to be polished shine with {;
deep luster like that of red gold, and
still possess their elasticity. Some were
found composed for the most part OF
pure gold. 1t seems as if the aurochqlet
so praised by Piiny and others had been
rediscoyered. In only one place has q
similar metal been found, that is, ir
Corinth; the celebrated Eirror with the
representation of Korinthos and Lcuka.
made of the same material. The ap
pearance of these bracelets is, when II
an oxidizcd condition, exactly similar
10 that of oxidized bronze, but the meta
of the bracelets is considerably heavier
in Naples the dealers in antiquities made
good business by selling all that the,
possessed of similar shape TO those cage
to have and wear such ornaments; bu
no one could change the nature Of tn
common bronze, or give to object of
different material the beautiful lustcl
and elasticity of those made of "Spinel
lis metal, >" Is it has been called in Ma
pies. Among other things taken from
the tombs of the first period we noticed
large pieces of amber, generally per
1orated.
One beautiful vase. taken from one o.
the tufa tOmbs, was a Greek lekVlhos
the lower part covered with a fine shin
ing black glaze, the upper with coa'
of excessively fine white clay, upor
which figures in outline were designed
with exquisite delicacy. There is only
one vase. found at Nola, which can com
pare with 1t, the celebrated vase with
the representation OF Ancsidorus. An
other vase which contained the ashes OF
some fatty substance was one from the
mandatory of Heron, the first of that
make found with two names inscribed
upon it, indicating that Makron, its
maker, worked in Athens in the atclie'
of Heron. It is the only one of its kind
and epoch till now fa'n'h at Suersula,
and it would b peplat,." II" d':.w from
its presence thsre anych. oi:" '''"'' con
clasion. might well bs TIL III a
vase had come into the posscs..,.. in