Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 8.djvu/278

2()4- PKOCEEDINGS AT MEETINGS OF staff, for the rector of the choir, may be ahuost seen from the description of the ' Baculi pro chori regentibus,' set down in the Hst of plunder carried off by Henry YIII. from Lincohi Cathedral. — Imprimis, a staff' covered with silver and gilt, with one image of our lady graven in silver at one end, and an image of St. Hugh on the other end ; and having a boss, six-squared, with twelve images enamelled, having six buttresses, wanting one pinnacle and two tops. Item, two other staves, covered with silver and gilt, having an image of our lady, and a chanon kneeling before her at every end, with this scripture, ' Pro"^ nobis ora,' <kc. ; having also one knop, with six but- tresses, and six windows in the midst, one of thenl wanting a pinnacle, with this scripture about the staff", ' Benedictus Deus in donis suis.' Item, two other staves, covered with silver parcel gilt, having a knop in the midst, having six buttresses, and six windows in every staff, gilt, wanting one round" silver plate of one crouches end.— (Dugdale, Mon. Anglic, t. viii., p. 1281.) From these, and other descriptions, it would appear that the head of the staff was made like St. Anthony's cross, or the capital letter, T- Upon the top of this were set the images.' " In the Dugue Catalogue the figure on the top of this beautiful staff is called St. Michael. This appears to be a mistake, as the head is clearly that of a female. It is, most probably, St. Margaret, one of the saints whose symbol was a dragon, and bore a spear and cross. The figures m the volutes are St. Valeria, virgin and martyr, a.d. 250, who is said to have brought her head to St. Martial while he was saying mass. _ " From the general character of the design, the date of this interesting relic may, I presume, be placed about the end of the twelfth century." A representation of this very curious staff has since been given by Mr. Shaw, in his beautiful work, recently completed, " The Decorative Arts of the Middle Ages." Mil. Nesbitt observed that there is one of similar form in the Treasury of Cologne Cathedral. Mr. Acgcstus Franks read the following interesting document, hitherto impublished, in relation to the early manufacture of porcelain at Stratford- le-Bow, in Essex. In classifying the miscellaneous collections at the British Museum, with a view to their more suitable arrangement in the " Biitish room," now completed, Mr.Franks had found a curious bowl, richly decorated, a chef d'veuvre of the fabrication of Stratford-le-Bow, as appeared by the following memorial, affixed in the box in which it had been preserved.' " This Bowl was made at Bow China Manufactory, at Stratford le-Bow, in the County of Essex, about the year 1760, and painted there by [me] Thomas Craft, my Cypher is in the Bottom ; it is painted in what we used to call the old Japan Taste, a taste at that time much esteemed by the then Duke of Argyle ; there is nearly 2 penny weight of gold : about 15». I had it in hand at" different times about three months, about 2 weeks time was bestowed upon it, it could not have been manufactured, kc. for less than 4£. There is not its similitude ; I took it in a box to Kentish town, and had it burned there in Mr. Gyles' kiln ; cost me 3^ ; it was cracked the first time of using it ; Miss Nancy sha, {sic) a Daughter of the late S^ Patrick Blake, was christened with it, 1 never use it but in particular respect to my Company, and I desire my Legatee (as mentioned in my will) may do the same. Pei-haps it may [be] thought I have said too much about this trifling Toy ; a reflection steals in upon my Mind, that this said Bowl '" Tliis bowl measures, in diam. 8| in.