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 XVth century date, bearing the armourer's mark of the famous Antonio da Missaglia (Fig. 348). Though excessively rare, XVth century salades with elaborate contemporary trimming of gilt bronze are known to be still extant. A splendid example (Fig. 349), with the decoration added in bold and simple good taste, is from our own collection. In the collection of Mr. S. J. Whawell is a head-piece which the Baron de Cosson declares

to be one of the finest Italian salades in existence. It has the great depth of 12$1⁄4$ inches. It retains a splendid blue-black surface and also, with the exception of a small part, its original trimmings of decorated gilt bronze around the edge. Only recently, on the back of the skull-piece, beneath a small deposit of rust, was found a Milanese armourer's mark. This fine salade Mr. Whawell obtained from Florence, where it was well known as one of the principal treasures of the collection of Signor S. Bardini (Fig. 350). Two other salades of the Celata order, but very richly decorated with velvet