Page:History of Art in Primitive Greece - Mycenian Art Vol 2.djvu/354

 Glyptic Art. 301 ment re-appears on a third ring, engraved with less care. In a wood two horses, set face to face, are rearing ; between them are indistinct strokes indicative of a tree (Fig. 419, 22). Then, too, bronze rings with engraved signets were used by people that could not afford anything better ; but rust has destroyed most of them. Although in a very poor state, we divine a contest between two quadrupeds, one of which was perhaps a lion, like that seen on a Vaphio specimen.' Make- believe signet-rings of the precious metal, e.g. of gilt bronze, were not uncommon ; one such intaglio was lately excavated ; to it still adhered the thin gold-leaf which once had entirely covered it. As will be seen by these examples, intaglios in metal are much less rare than was at first believed. Yet when compared with those in hard stones, they may be said to form the exception. Fiu, 411. — Beiel of gold ring. Kl(:.*423. — Bezel of gold rim;. Engraved gems had the one great advantage of lending them- selves equally well to be set in a ring of gold or one of common metal, or again to form necklaces and bracelets, thereby adding to their value. This is why they vastly out-number intaglios in metal, the first-born of glyptic art. It is self-evident that we could not think of reproducing all the gems to be found in the museums of Europe. We were obliged, therefore, to select from among the impressions at our disposal the most interesting ones, whether on account of the theme, the merit of execution, or the clearness of the types engraved on them. In our estimation, a certain proportion of these glyptics has no claim to be classed among those due to the Mycenian engraver. Nevertheless, some of these doubtful specimens have been admitted in our plates. If we print them, It is for the sake of being able to explain more precisely, through the differences observable between these and authentic Mycenian gems, the characteristics which distinguish ' 'E^lfitpit, 1889.