Page:History of Art in Primitive Greece - Mycenian Art Vol 2.djvu/504

 Metal. 447 with the point, the metal being forcibly pressed down so as to penetrate the hollows and marry the reliefs of the core. The main design consists of a lozenge with a rosette at the upper and lower end ; bounded, now by a row of discs, now by four pointed rosettes ; beyond it, again, is a plain band ornamented at the four angles by two bosses. The idea of these buttons must have been suggested by large-headed nails, which served to fix plates of ivory, crystal, or glass to pieces of furniture. Plates, designed to be fastened on to the robe, are of all conceivable shapes ; some are triangular, and enriched with complicated scrolls (Fig. 537) ; others are quadrangular, and exhibit flowers which vaguely recall certain species of lilies l''iO. 539- — Kar-ring from Tomb III. Actual akc. (Fig. 538). Let us not forget the gorgeous gold pectoral from the fifth grave (Fig. 108), showing an ornament already found at Troy (Fig. 512, 5). It consists of a small tube, through which was passed a string, with spirals on either side, made with thin gold wire (tall-piece. Chap. XI.). Spirals form the ornament of large gold ear-rings (Fig. 539). Some still preserved the little ring which passed through the lobe of the ear.' Hair-pins were no less elaborately designed. It will be enough to cite the specimen, with a semi-circular frame, within which is a woman with outstretched arnis.- The graves of the lower city were intended for people of no great importance ; so that the ornaments they yield cannot compare, in size or weight, with those of the royal tombs. The most prevalent designs on these small ornaments are those seen on glass-pastes (Fig. 540). Such would be a sphinx with floating ' SCHLIEMASN, MyCiHX. '' Ibid. A better drawing appears rJahrbuch, 1891.