Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 29.djvu/243

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ARCHAEOLOGICAL INTELLIGENCE. 199 the Al)iiizzi. It is of tluit kind known as liscliiuvi (one of which is fii^Mired in Mns. Uorbon., vol. ii. tav. 31), and is made of bronze, inlaid with silver. The feet are formed as fonr griffins, with silver claws and eyes; the arms, to the right and the left, as two hoi-ses, lying down; the hack and all the framework is ornamented with i/ttanicc work of silver, representing hunting scenes, battles, sacrifices, domestic scenes, itc., and containing many hundred figures of the most exquisite and artistic execution. This remarkable work of anticjnity, unrivalled of its kind, is estimated as worth 3U00/, It was purchased by Signor Castellani for 400/., who, with a patriotic munificence which does him the highest honour, has presented it to the Capitolinc Museum at Rome. News of some remarkable early Christian anticjuities have also come to us from Spain, where they have been recently discovered. One is an object of great interest. It would seem to be the bronze ])la(iue of a stundiu'd — a labarum — with the well-known naont)gram of Christ, the rhi rho ^, snstained by two eagles, and believed to have been of the time of Coustantine. — Also a thuribulum, or censer of bronze, ornamented with the cross and the dove. Accounts from the south of France speak of the acquisition of two early Christian rings of interest — one of bronze, having the g^' engraved upon the bezel, and surrounded by a coronet of ivy; the other a child's ring, of gokl, inscribed LVCLE ►{< VELLE. The tomb which yielded this ring, also contained two earrings of gold and pearl, the lower portion of the drops ornamented with five dots connected by smaller o ones in the form of a cross, O -O-'O and the letters ah)lui and A :U) o onifgn. Also a gold col/ier, with pendant shells and pearls, but not having any Christian emblem. Another necklet of gold and pearls, witii the Creek cross >i> eight times repeated, and centred with a wreath of laurel. A silver spoon, with the inscription x.tvi vivas. A collier of jet, the central oval bead engraved with A-WtO surrounded by a wreath of vine leaves, gi-apes, and ears of corn, surmounted by two doves. We trust that the information which has been so kimlly supplied concerning these very interesting objects, will be followed up by more detailed notices of them. " Alderley Edge and Neighbourhood, Past and Present" is the title of a work about to be published, by subscription, in illustration of a district of Cheshire of the highest interest to tlie arclucologist, abounding in architectural l)uildings of great l>eauty, and with special charac- teristics, as well as in scenes highly picturesque. In the district are found three out of the small number of l)lack and white timber churches existing in the whole of England. The halls of Bagueley, Bramhall, »tc., vol.. x.ix. !■: r.