Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 7.djvu/553

NOTICES OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL PUBLICATIONS. 407 NOTICES :0F CHINESE SEALS FOUND IN IRELAND. By Edmund Getty, M.R.I. A. London: Hodgson, Paternoster Row. Dublin: Hodges and Smith. 1850. 4to., Nineteen Lithographic Plates. The curious Memoir, to which we would invite the attention of our readers, relates to a subject which has for some years been viewed with lively interest by the antiquaries of the sister kingdom. The discovery of objects of oriental porcelain in the beds of rivers, the peat-bogs, or places of interment, in Ireland, must be generally accounted one of the most mysterious facts presented by that country of antiquarian marvels. The apparent evidence of trade or relations with the East, atforded by such extraordinary relics, has naturally been claimed as a ground of vantage by theorists who love to speculate on Phojniclan immigrations, and a sup- posed intercourse, at a very remote period, between Ireland and far distant lands. The existence of these porcelain seals is perhaps not fully known or accredited by antiquarians in England. They have, however, been occa- sionally noticed in publications with which our readers are conversant, and authentic specimens have on various occasions been brought before the Institute.' It was indispensable that the facts connected with their dis- covery should be fully and cautiously investigated ; and that an interpreta- tion of the curious characters which these seals present, should be sought by Chinese scholars, with any evidence in regard to their age, to be derived from the ancient or peculiar foi-ms which these characters may present. In the interesting notices produced by Mr. Getty, and originally read before the Belfast Literary Society, the first detailed investigation of these questions has been supplied ; and although the subject may still be involved in considerable obscurity, the author is well entitled to our thanks for the mass of curious information which he has collected. The existence of ancient porcelain seals in Ireland was, we believe, first made known by a noted archaeologist of Dublin, Mr. J. Huband Smith, about the year 1839. His communications to the Royal Irish Academy were con- sidered of suificient interest to be repeatedly noticed in the "Athenffium," in the early part of the following year. Subsequent inquiries appear to have satisfactorily removed every doubt, which might at first have been thrown upon the statement of the discovery of such objects in Ireland, under circumstances sufficient to justify the conclusion, that their deposit in the silt of streams, in the peat-bogs, or elsewhere, had actual!}' occurred at a remote period. Some of our readers may not be familiar with the form of these porcelain seals. They are little cubes of pure white porcelain, highly vitrified, somewhat more than half an inch square, having, on the under side, certain characters for the purpose of producing Impressions ; and, on the top of the cube, a little figure of an animal, seiant, in which naturalists recognise the peculiar foi-in of the Chinese monkey. The facilities recently afforded for communication with China, has now enabled Mr. Getty to supply, with an extensive list of specimens existing in Ireland, the interpretations of these characters, given by the Rev. Mr. Gutzlaft" and other learned authorities in that country. • Four porcelain seals were conimuni- was produced by Lord Talbot of Mala- cated by Mr. R. Anthony. See Archaeol. hide; and one recently by Mr. ^lui'phy, Journal, vol. ii., p. 71. Another example see p. 403. VOL. VII. 3 n