choice of musical horns as models, but it would seem likely that this choice was aided, if not dictated, by the favour in which representations of animals' horns are held as children's amulets.
Fig. 34 (Pl. II.). A musical horn, of heavy gilt silver, with six small bells along the lower edge and one attached to the elaborate suspending chain; Madrid, (but obtained at Saragossa by the vendor). Apparently of the same workmanship as the sirens, (two of which, at least, are known to have come from Saragossa,) and as the lion noted below.
Fig. 35 (Pl. II.). A musical horn, of silver, with five small bells attached to the body ; San Sebastian. Although of much lighter rnetal, this resembles No. 34 in certain details ; it seems, however, to be of somewhat later date.
Lions. — Fig. 36 (Pl. II.). A crowned lion, of heavy gilt silver, with five small bells attached to the feet and neck and one attached to the elaborate suspending chain ; Madrid, (but-obtained at Saragossa by the vendor). A child's ornamental whistle, apparently of the same period and workmanship as the sirens and No. 34. No information as to any atnuletic intention of the lion was obtained, (excepting the suggestion that it might give strength to the child,) although the ornament as a whole was said to be an amulet. There is a similar lion in the collection of jewellery at South Kensington, and another in the Louvre Museum ; another, somewhat ruder in finish, was noted in France near the Spanish border.
Amulets embracing Religious Conceptions. — The two specimens described immediately below consist of thin bronze medals, apparently of the seventeenth century, resembling Byzantine coins, bent into a cup-shape and arranged for suspension. From only one person, an old woman at Madrid, was any information concerning their use in Spain obtained ; they seem to be unknown to most people at present. They resemble an amulet described by Bellucci [1] as obtained at Aquila, and some obtained by me at Verona and Venice.
- ↑ Op. cit.. Tab. xvi., 14 ; a bronze Bxzantine coin called "scifato," of the form of a porringer, mounted in silver ; employed especially for tumours (in the mouth). These coins, either merely perforated for suspension or bound in a silver rim, must have been until recently quite common in Northern Italy, especially at Venice, where they are still known to many people as amulets, — now stated generally to be against the evil eye. I think that the Spanish specimens, in which the designs, although almost obliterated, seem to be not quite Byzantine in treatment, have probably been based on the Venetian.
