CHAP. 49. (11.)—INSTANCES OF LUXURY IN SILVER PLATE.
The caprice of the human mind is marvellously exemplified in the varying fashions of silver plate; the work of no individual manufactory being for any long time in vogue. At one period, the Furnian plate, at another the Clodian, and at another the Gratian,[1078] is all the rage—for we borrow the shop even at our tables.[1079]—Now again, it is embossed plate[1080] that we are in search of, and silver deeply chiselled around the marginal lines of the figures painted[1081] upon it; and now we are building up on our sideboards fresh tiers[1082] of tables for supporting the various dishes. Other articles of plate we nicely pare away,[1083] it being an object that the file may remove as much of the metal as possible.
We find the orator Calvus complaining that the saucepans are made of silver; but it has been left for us to invent a plan of covering our very carriages[1084] with chased silver, and it was in our own age that Poppæa, the wife of the Emperor Nero, ordered her favourite mules to be shod even with gold!