Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 6.djvu/449

THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE. 295 at Ledbury, appears probable from another descendant, Eichard, the brother of Christopher Caple, being buried at Ledbury, in 1601. By Mr. Franks. — An ornament elaborately chased in silver, supposed to have been the morse or fastening of a cope : it resembles also the ornaments seen in certain early German paintings and engravings, suspended at the head of a bed, probably to contain some relic, and regarded as a kind of charm. It is a very fine example of German goldsmith's work, of the sixteenth century. By Me. Forrest. — Three ewers, of glazed ware, valuable examples of early decorative pottery, lately brought from France. One, with a stand, supposed to be Spanish, coated with a rich brown glaze ; the other two, with raised ornaments of green and white colour on a mottled glaze, in the style of Bernard Palissy, and considered to be of his fabrication. In form they resemble the ewer made by Palissy, represented in Brongniart's " Traite des Arts Ccramiques," pi. xxxvi., fig. 1. They were doubtless used for pouring scented waters over the hands at the close of a repast. By Mr. Allies. — An illuminated MS. of the " Horse." French art, of the fifteenth century. Also a curious carved box, of good design, of the six- teenth century, ornamented with a medallion head and arabesques. Probably of Nuremberg work. By Mr. Westwood. — A representation of a singular pair of wooden stocks, ornamented with carving, in the style of the sixteenth century : they were found in a village in Essex. Some minor relics, three horn-books, one of the time of Charles I., the alphabet commencing with a cross, thence called the " Criss-cross row." Another with a figure of Charles II., and an " Abece" of later date, not covered with horn, but varnished. Two nutcrackers of curious construction, one known to be of the early part of the reign of James IT. By Mi{. Octavius Moegax, M.P. — An unique collection of ancient salvers, or chargers, and vessels of bright yellow metal, supposed to be of the kind termed " latten," several of them ornamented with sacred devices and inscriptions, amongst which are some remarkable examples of the curious fiorid letter, forming legends which have so long perplexed antiquaries in all parts of Europe. ^Ir. Morgan arranged this curious series in four classes : — 1. Chargers, or large dishes, supposed by him to have been fabricated at Nui-emberg, and by the similarity in design and work, probably all made at the same time and place. On one of them is represented the Annunciation, the design closely resembing some of the engravings of the close of the fifteenth century. The metal had been analysed for ]Ir. Morgan by ^Ir. Faraday, arid proved to be a' true bronze, being a compound of copper and tin, without any zinc, a metal rarely used, if ever, previously to 1550. In regard to the intention of these dishes nothing is precisely known; the northern antiquary, Sjoborg, who has written much on the subject, calls them baptismal dishes, or alms' dishes. The subjects most commonly found on them are— Adam and Eve, St. George, and the Grapes of Esehcol ; on one of •* These relics of the minor niiinufactuies ham, in Norfolk, a considerable trade in in the List century are not without interest. wooden wares, and objects of this nature, Sir John Boilcau observed, that at Wvniond- formerly existed, now wholly e.tinct.