Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 5.djvu/204

 156 ARCHAEOLOGICAL INTELLIGENCE. singular cubes of white porcelain, bearing old Chinese characters, stated to have been found in the Irish bogs, as already noticed briefly in the Archseological Jovu-naP, and precise information respecting the date of their coinage may prove acceptable to some of our readers. This we have been enabled to give, by the kindness of a gentleman who has made ex- tensive researches in China, INIr. Thomas Bellott, R.N. He has presented to the Institute siiecimens of the currency of the Tartar emperors, or Ta ts'hing dynasty, Avhich commenced in 1616, the reigning emperor being the seventh. These coins comprise those of Shun-che, whose reign ended in 1661, Kang-hi, 1722, Jung-ching, 1733, Keen-lung, 1795; the coins described by Col. Vallancey are of his reign. Also, cash of Kea-king, whose reign ended 1820, and of Taon-kwang, his successor, now reigning. These pieces bear on the obverse the name of the emperor in Tartar cha- racters, reading perpendicularly, beginning on the left side ; on the reverse, the Chinese name. Mr. Bellott made the following remark on the discovery of such coins in Ireland. " I read the English inscription on six or eight grave-stones of Enghsh merchant-seamen, on Coo-lun-roo, opposite Amoy, dated 1600 and odd years; it was just as natural that their shipmates should carry cash, &c. to Ireland, as I have to Stockport." The curious porcelain seals, to which allusion has been made, are no longer in use in China, and ap^jear to be of much earlier date than the coins in question. We hope, at no distant period, to give some detailed notices of those remarkable objects. PERIOD OF GOTHIC ART. The very interesting object, of which, by the kindness of its possessor, the Rev. William Maskell, we are enabled to offer representations, was found a few years since near Devizes. It is of pure gold, and both sides were originally enamelled, the colours being transparent, and the field tooled out and engraved, so that the lines Avere apparent through the vitri- fied coating, according to a beautiful process of art which appears to have been first used in Italy during the fourteenth century. Some portions of opaque white enamel remain in the little flowers which appear on both sides;, the lines of the figures are filled in with a black substance, possibly a kind of niello? The annexed woodcuts shew the exact size and fashion of this little reliquary : there is a cavity within for the reception of a relic; on the side which opens, and is attached by hinges to the lower portion, appears an arclibishop in full pontificals, bearing a cross-staff', and raising his right hand in benediction: around his head there is a nimbus, but there is no attribute to designate the person intended to be pourtrayed. On the re- verse is seen St. John the Baptist, pointing to the Holy Lamb, placed on the book of the gospels, and supported on the left arm of the saint. Beneath are inscribed the words, "A mon • derreyne. All round the edge of the reliquary are tears, chased out to receive enamel ; from these it has been " See a notice of a communication by Mr. R. Anthony, of Piltown, Archosol. Journal, vol. ii. p. 71.