Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 8.djvu/264

 190 PROCEEDINGS AT MEETINGS OP globular, with one handle, and resembling a dewijean, is of remarkable size, its height being 14 inches ; its circumference, 43 inches. About the neck are some traces of green glaze ; it is ornamented with patterns stamped in relief, fleurs-de-lys, cinque-foils, dragons, two birds picking at a branch, «fec. The date may be as early as 1280 — 1300. The others are large jugs, one of them well coated with green glaze, ornamented most grotesquely with human heads, having peaked beards ; the other withmottly glaze, the ornament consisting only of lines, or strice, lengthwise. The height of these remarkable specimens of medieval English pottery is lOi inches, and inches respectively. The former vessel was rendered more curious by the occurrence of numerous small fresh-water shells (the Dreis- sena pohnnorpTia) appended by their byssus to the surface of the ware. That species, it is stated, was introduced with timber, from the Volga, into some of the docks or harbours of the East coast, about twenty-five years since. It had made its way into several rivers, amongst others into the Nene, in Northamptonshire, and thence must have effected the transit to Whittlesea Mere. (See Turton's British Shells, ed. Gray, p. 301.) By the Rev. C. R. Manning. — An enamelled pyx of the work of Limoges, oi"namented with figures of angels and flowers, and surmounted by a cross. Date, twelfth century. A rosary, formed of twenty-four berries, of uniform size (diameter, f inch), precisely resembling the paternosters seen on sepulchral brasses, appended to the girdle of a merchant or civilian. Each berry is ornamented with a pattern of concentric circles. Date, probably the fifteenth century. By Mr. Franks. — A deep dish of Italian ware, of the kind known as Mezza- Majolica. The portrait of an abbot is delineated upon it. The design is carefully executed in blue and yellow, the latter colour having a splendid mother-o'-pearl lustre. On the reverse is hastily sketched a flower-pot, probably the mark of the artist. This interesting example appears to have been fabricated at Pesaro, during the latter half of the fifteenth century. — Also, four tiles, portions of the pavement of the Chiteau d'Ecouen, near Paris, made by Bernard Palissy for the Constable Anne de Montmorency. The history of this decoration has not been accurately ascer- tained ; some would question the supposition that it was the work of that remarkable artist, who styled himself, " ouvrier de terre, inventeur de rustiques jigulines du roi et monseigneur le due de Montmorency.'^ They were originally, in great part, mural revetements, and suffered much at various times. Considerable remains may still be seen in the chapel and one of the great halls at Ecouen, displaying singular elegance of design. Mr. Franks laid also before the meeting some fragments of stone, coated with a vitrified crust of considerable thickness, found in a field, called the Abbot's Moor-field, near Ellesmere, Salop. By Mr. V'ebb. — A magnificent example of the enamelled pictures pro- duced by the artists of Limoges, in the latter half of the sixteenth century. This plate is of unusual dimensions, and the subject, representing the Crucifixion, exhibits great pictorial effect and skilful grouping. It has subsequently been purchased for the series in course of formation at the British Museum. By Mr. Octavius Morgan, M.P. — A double-salt of silver, parcel-gilt, of curious fashion, in three portions or stages ; the lowest, supported on three balls, has a small basin or cavity, as usual in ancient salts. Upon this a second portion fits as a cover, at the top of which is a similar cavity of