Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 11.djvu/322

 280 PROCEEDINGS AT MEETINGS OF tute. Mr. Way had accordingly been enabled to exhibit this curious relique to the meeting, and he had the gratification to make known the liberal determination of Mr. Williams to present it to the collection of National Antiquities at the British Museum. The Kcv. Edward Tuoli.opi: communicated the following notice of a singular collar brought from Finland, accompanied by an accurate drawing, from which a reduced representation is here given : — " This collar was found some years ago by a Laplander on one of the mountains of Finmark, from whom it was obtained by Sir Arthur do Capel Broke, Bart., in whose possession it still remains. Such collars were worn by the Finland wisemen, before the establishment of Chris- tianity among the inhabitants of that northern region, on those occasions when they invoked and affected to raise up evil spirits to parley with them. Its material is bronze, and it has all the appearance of great antiquity. It consists of eighteen hollow circular portions, besides the longer one seen in the upper part of the drawing. Its length is 25 inches. The whole was no doubt connected together by an internal wire or cord. As this has jicrishcd, it is uncertain whether the long portion placed at the top in the drawing, was intended to hang behind or before, especially as there is a bunch of short chains and remnants of various pendants now attached to one of the ordinary portions. This, however, very probably, was suspended from that particular portion which I have placed at the bottom, inasmuch, as it is a little more ornamented than the others, and retains some frag- ments of farther ornamentation — visible on its outline — once, perhaps, so arranged, as evidently to have afforded the means of suspension ; and if so, this would seem to hang most naturally in front. Only one terminal pendant of this bunch exists in a perfect condition, apparently the rude figure of a horse ; there is also a small spear-shaped or leaf-shaped orna- ment, probably intended for suspension in like manner, and fragmentary jmrtions of many others still remain attached to the links of the short chains forming the bunch before alluded to. " Sir Arthur Broke also obtained from the same country, Finland, two curious silver rings, of uncertain but ancient date. Drawings of these 1 send for examination, as specimens of early northern workmanship." These rings are formed of bands of silver curiously wrought, and represent- ing, possibly, coiled serpents. To the outside arc attached small rings, hanging loose, and to which some ornaments may have been appendcil. Mr. .1. II. Le Ki;rx produced, for the insjicction of the Society, an extensive collection of representations of ancient crosses, existing in England, and he offered the following observations on the interesting subject of archaeological enquiry, illustrated by that series of examples : — " The collection of drawings of crosses now before the meeting, was commenced by the late William Alexander, upon wliose accuracy as a draughtsman, reliance may be safely placed : the best productions of his pencMl, however, are the drawings now in the British Museum, made during ills ajtpointment as draughtsman to the Embassy in China. His sketches of crosseri wero mostly executed between ISOO an many valuable monuments of this