Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 29.djvu/347

 Tlin rOYAL AnCILEOLOaiCAL IXSTITUTR. 291 seal, is> the sn-nddii of John, Earl of Moiitacuo (afterwards King), about the year 117* ». It represents a male bust which maybe intended for one of the later Eniperore. lu vol. xi., p. I'OG, of the 'Journal,' is a memoir by Sir F. Madden upon seals ' en placard,' in which it is shown that the eaily Fraukish sovereigns used auti(iue gems or pastes repre- senting profiles of CJreek or lloman ])rinces, and which were thought by Mabillon and othei's to represent the Sovereigns themselves. In vol. xviii. (p. 2'J7) is a report of a discourse by Mr. Waterton, on the history of gem-engraving, in which ho showed that the Byzantines continued to imictise the art of gem-cutting with indiH'ercut success for some ages, but at the end of the eleventh century it had completely declined even at Con- stautiuoj)le. lie continues : 'Some few gems of the middle ages have been spared to us, but their execution is of the rudest form. The signets, which were as much required as ever, were either seals of metal, or antique intagli set in rings, with their sulijects interpreted in a I'eligious sense, and legends added with a new interpretation.' Of the curious jicrversions of legends which occurred untler such conditions, several instances were given. "The most interesting examples of antiipie gems used as s'xrdn, are to be seen figured in Mr. D. Laing's valuable Inventory of Scottish Seals, fii*st Bei'ies. The 'Collectanea Antiqua' of Mr. C. Koach Smith; a memoir by Mr. C. W. King on the ' Use of Antique Gems in the Middle Ages,' in vol. xxii. of the * Journal ' ; and the 'Archaeologia' of the Society of Antiquaries, may also be consulted with advantage by any one wishing to follow up this uiteresting subject of inquiry." antiquities r.uti i«ll0il of 'Hit CrvIjibitcU. By Mr. C. S. Gueaves. — A runic comb, jet and glass beads, arrow- heads and many other objects of (lint, lately found near Whitby, Yorkshire. I'.y Dr. TiiURNAM. — I'liotographs of Urns found in a barrow at Dewlisli, Doi-set. By Mrs. Kkkh. — rhotugraph of Keys of the loth century, found in the river Anio at Pisa, supposed to have been those of the Torre della Fame ; also photograph of the modern edifice built on the spot where the Torre della Fame stood. lu some of its cellars the foundations of the ancient structure still exist. — Impression of an English consular seal found in the Arno, i)robably seventeenth century. By Miss Ffaringuon, — Copper matrix of personal seal, lately dug up near Tewkesbury, late 14th century, round, about 1^- inches in diameter. In the centre a cross or star (?) of eight rays ; legend — " S. Adam de la Fount." By Mr. Hklvar of Coker Court, Somerset, through Sir Joiix !Macleax. — A Deed of the latter jtart of the 13th century, whereby Roger, sou of GeoflVey de Pridul, released to Sclina and AVilliam Pctticru, certain dues from land, in consideration of the yearly render of a pair of white gloves. The seal is an antique gem, slightly elliptical in form, placed iu a mcditeval setting, with the legend — "-j- S' Pocr.u iDi vavs." ("The seal of Roger, son of Geoflrey Vaus " ?) In the centre are inscribed some Arabic charactei"s. By Mr. Hendeksox. — A personal seal of the 14th century, being an antique gem in a medieval setting, legend — "Secretuni Secreti."