Page:A History of Art in Chaldæa & Assyria Vol 2.djvu/137

Materials. 119 a certain harshness in which the distinguishing mark of Chal- daean origin has been recognized. We may give as an instance the small object thus described in the catalogue of the Louvre : "Lion devouring a wild goat, of which only the head and neck are visible. This group ornaments one face of a small Fig. 55. — Lion carved in wood. Louvre. Length 4 inches. Drawn by Saint-Elme Gautier. object, rounded above and with a flat base. There is an oblong slit in the latter. The object is apparently a seal " (Fig. 56). * On the other hand, although most of the ivory carvings that were used for the handles of walking-sticks and daggers and such purposes, show the characteristics we have mentioned, it must be acknowledged that the ivory tablets from Nimroud are free, for Fig 56.— Ivory seal. Louvre. Actual size. Drawn by Saint -Elrne Gautier. the most part, from the style we have attempted to define as that proper to Chaldaea and Assyria. The treatment is lighter and more elegant, reminding us of Egypt. Must we believe that when the Assyrians attacked this beautiful material they changed their 1 De Longperier, Notice des antiquités assyriennes du Musée du Louvre, 3rd edition, 1854.