Page:A History of Art in Ancient Egypt Vol 2.djvu/415

Metal-work and Jewelrv. 379 Bronze was employed for all kinds of domestic purposes. The graceful mirror-handle reproduced below (Fig. 308) is in the Boulak Museum. So too, are the bronze hair-pin (Fig. 309) and the curiously designed dagger (Fig. 310). The analysis of various specimens of Egyptian bronze shows that the proportion of tin which it contained was not constant. It varies from about five to fifteen per cent.^ Traces of iron are also found in it. Fig. 308.— Mirror-handle. Fig. 309. — Bronze hair-pin. Fig. 310.— Bronze dagger. The date at which this last named metal was introduced into the country is still matter of dispute. Various facts brought together by Dr. Birch, lead us to think that the Egyptians were acquainted with iron at least as soon as the commencement of the Theban supremacy,- but it would seem that they always made a o-reater use of bronze. o 1 Wilkinson, Manners and Customs, etc. vol. ii. pp. 232 and 401. - Ibid. vol. ii. pp. 250, 251.