CONTENTS

PAGE
PREFACE [7]
GLOSSARY [23]
CHAPTER I
THE METAL AND ITS ALLOYS

Ancient bronze—The bronzes of Greece, Rome, and Eastern nations—Copper for enamels—The brass of commerce—Bell metal—The sources of copper—The making of brass—Copper as an alloy—The characteristics of metal.

[35]
CHAPTER II
THE HUNTING GROUND

In buried cities—Turned up by the plough—Among Saxon and Norman remains—In hidden chambers—In local museums—Dealers' shops—The engraver's art.

[51]
CHAPTER III
PREHISTORIC BRONZES.

The dawn of progress—London relics—The beauty of ancient art—The useful bronzes, the prototypes of later brasses—The forger at work.

 [63]
CHAPTER IV
GREEK AND ROMAN CURIOS

Grecian bronzes—Relics of Roman occupation—Interesting toilet requisites—Artificial lighting—Statues and monuments—Romano-British art—A well-staged exhibit.

[77]
CHAPTER V
MEDIÆVAL ANTIQUITIES

Domestic brasswork—Metal signs and badges—Ornamental trinkets—Arms and armour.

[93]
CHAPTER VI
LATER METAL-WORK

The influence of the Guilds—Architectural metal-work—The door knocker—Interior metal-work.

[111]
CHAPTER VII
CHURCH BRASSWORK

Candlesticks—Altar brasses—Metal architectural ornament—Memorial brasses.

[133]
CHAPTER VIII
DOMESTIC UTENSILS

The kitchen—The houseplace—Chimney and other ornaments—Classified arrangement.

[153]
CHAPTER IX
CANDLESTICKS AND LAMPS

Fire-making apparatus—Candles and candlesticks—Oil lamps and lanterns.

[193]
CHAPTER X
BELLS AND BELL-METAL CASTINGS

The founders' secrets—Great bells of historic fame—The uses of bells—Old mortars.

[215]
CHAPTER XI
CIVIC EMBLEMS AND WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

The ancient horn—The badge of office—Weighing instruments—Measures in Exeter Museum—Our standards.

[229]
CHAPTER XII
BRONZES AND THEIR REPLICAS

Early figure modelling—Statues in public places—Replicas in miniature.

[247]
CHAPTER XIII
ORIENTAL BRONZES AND BRASSES

Countries of origin—How some Oriental curios are derived—A wealth of metal on view—Various Indian wares—Chinese and Japanese art.

[261]
CHAPTER XIV
IDOLS AND TEMPLE RELICS

Varied shrines and many idols—Indian idols—Temple vases and ornaments.

[289]
CHAPTER XV
NATIVE METAL-WORK

Outside influences—Benin bronzes—Other African curios.

 [303]
CHAPTER XVI
CONTINENTAL COPPER AND BRASS

Italian bronzes—French art—Dutch brasswork—German metal-work.

[313]
CHAPTER XVII
SUNDIALS, CLOCKS, AND BRASS INSTRUMENTS

The mystery of dialling—Some old dials—Antique clocks—Old watches—The weather—Scientific instruments.

[327]
CHAPTER XVIII
ENAMELS ON COPPER

Processes of enamelling—Chinese and Japanese enamels—British enamels.

 [347]
CHAPTER XIX
MISCELLANEOUS METAL CURIOS

Tobacco-boxes and pipe-stoppers—Snuff-boxes—Handles and handle-plates—Horse-trappings—War relics—Tiny curios—Replicas.

[361]
CHAPTER XX
WRINKLES FOR COLLECTORS

Cleaning copper and brass—Lacquering metal—Polishing brass—Restoring antique finishes—Using the burnisher—Brass rubbings.

[385]
INDEX [395]

ILLUSTRATIONS

FIG.
1.FINE COPPER EWER[Frontispiece]
PAGE
2. (1) BRONZE BUCKLER FROM THE THAMES VALLEY [39]
3. (2) ANOTHER BUCKLER FROM ABERYSTWYTH [39]
4. PART OF THE HOARD OF IMPLEMENTS OF THE LATE BRONZE AGE, FOUND IN KING'S CO., IRELAND [55]
5. (1) BRONZE CALDRON [67]
6. (2) URN OF THE LATER BRONZE AGE [67]
7. BRONZE SAUCEPAN WITH FOLIATED HANDLE [85]
8. EWER OF HAMMERED COPPER [85]
9. LAMP OF CAST BRONZE [85]
10. LAMP OF BRASS INLAID WITH COPPER [85]
11.BRASS AQUAMANILE (SEVENTEENTH CENTURY) [99]
12.BRASS COUVRE DE FEU, A RARE EARLY PIECE [113]
13.COPPER VANE ON BILLINGSGATE FISH MARKET [119]
14.THE CITY DRAGON AS A WEATHER-VANE [119]
15.COPPER COCK VANE, ONE OF FOUR ON SMITHFIELD MARKET [119]
16.BRONZE KNOCKER OF THE ARMORIAL TYPE [129]
17.BRASS DROP KNOCKER IN THE FORM OF A DOLPHIN [129]
18.BRASS WELL BUCKET [129]
19.CURIOUS DOUBLE CANDLESTICK [135]
20.VENETIAN CANDELABRUM (ONE OF A PAIR) [141]
21.BRONZE INCENSE BURNER AND INCENSE BOAT [145]
22.THE COPPER-GILT CROSS ON ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL [149]
23.SEVENTEENTH-CENTURY ROOM IN THE LONDON MUSEUM [157]
24.BRONZE CALDRON IN TRINITY HOSPITAL, LEICESTER [161]
25.SEVENTEENTH-CENTURY BRASS PAN [165]
26.BRASS TRIPOD POT [165]
27.CALDRON OF CAST BRASS [165]
28.BRASS COOKING VESSEL WITH CURVED HANDLE [165]
29.SKILLET (BRASS), THE HANDLE OF WHICH IS ENGRAVED WITH THE MOTTO "PITTY THE PORE" [169]
30 AND 31. BRONZE COOKING VESSELS, ATTRIBUTED TO THE BEGINNING OF THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY [169]
32 AND 33. COPPER WATER JUG AND WATER POT [173]
34.COPPER WATER JUG AND COVER [173]
35.BRASS TWO-HANDLED WATER VESSEL [173]
36.A FINELY-PIERCED BRASS TRIVET, DATED 1668 [177]
37.BRASS-TOPPED TRIVET, WITH ADDITIONAL LEG STAY [177]
38.BRASS-TOPPED TRIVET, WITH TURNED WOOD HANDLE [177]
39.COPPER HELMET-SHAPED COAL-BOX [181]
40.BRASS FOOT-WARMER WITH BAIL HANDLE [185]
41 AND 42. EARLY BRASS OR BRONZE HAND-WARMER,
SHOWN OPEN AND CLOSED 		[185]
43 AND 44. BRASS CHIMNEY ORNAMENTS (ONE EACH OF PAIRS) [189]
45.BRASS HORSE, A CHIMNEY OR HOB-GRATE ORNAMENT [189]
46.A TWO-TUBE CANDLE MOULD [197]
47.TWO TYPES OF EARLY PRICKET CANDLESTICKS [197]
48.PAIR OF CANDELABRUM OF EARLY TYPE (CENTRAL FIGURE) AND TWO OLD OIL LAMPS [201]
49.GROUP OF RARE CANDLESTICKS, ALMS-DISH, AND EWERS [205]
50.EARLY BRONZE LAMP [209]
51.OLD BRASS LANTERN [213]
52.BELL CAST BY JOHN PENNINGTON AT EXETER IN 1670 [223]
53.GROUP OF BELL-METAL MORTARS [223]
54.AN EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY FLAGSTAFF HEAD OF BRASS, ORIGINALLY GILT [233]
55.THE WINCHESTER MOOT HORN [233]
56.THE WINCHESTER BUSHEL (STANDARD MEASURE) [237]
57.OLD MEASURES BASED ON THE WINCHESTER STANDARD [237]
58.A PINT MEASURE OF THE REIGN OF ELIZABETH [243]
59.A WINCHESTER PINT OF THE DAYS OF QUEEN ANNE [243]
60.OLD FRENCH WEIGHTS [243]
61.BRONZE TIGER, BY ANTOINE LOUIS BARYE [251]
62.BRONZE LION, BY BARYE [255]
63.BRONZE STAG, BY BARYE [259]
64.COFFEE-POT OF HAMMERED COPPER FROM SYRIA [265]
65.SARACENIC DECORATED BRASS BASIN [269]
66.JAPANESE KETTLE (YUWAKASHI) [275]
67.PAIR OF VASES OF RED-BROWN COPPER, RELIEVED WITH BLACK LAC, FROM MORADABAD [275]
68.BRONZE FIGURE (ONE OF A PAIR) INLAID WITH SILVER AND GOLD [285]
69.AMIDA (INDIAN IDOL) [291]
70.A "BLUE" TARA (INDIAN IDOL) [291]
71.AMITAYUS (INDIAN IDOL) [291]
72.VAJRA DHARMA (INDIAN IDOL) [291]
73.AMITAYUS (INDIAN IDOL) [291]
74.JAPANESE PRICKET CANDLESTICK IN THE FORM OF CRANE AND TORTOISE [295]
75.JAPANESE RITUAL VASE [299]
76.SMALL TWO-HANDLED RITUAL VASE [299]
77.CIRCULAR VASE ON STAND [299]
78.BRONZE OVIFORM EWER [315]
79.BRASS EWER WITH ARTISTIC HANDLE [315]
80.DUTCH ORNAMENTAL BRASS CISTERN [323]
81.FRENCH EWER OR TANKARD WITH FANCY HANDLE [323]
82.FRENCH EWER WITH GROTESQUE MOUTH (SIXTEENTH CENTURY) [323]
83.EARLY DIALS—ON THE LEFT AN ARMILLARY DIAL; IN THE CENTRE PILLAR DIAL; AND ON THE RIGHT A RING DIAL [331]
84.CURIOUS OLD MICROSCOPE, MADE IN 1780 [331]
85.ENGRAVED POCKET CLOCK [337]
86.A HANDSOME BRONZE BAROMETER [343]
87.BOWL OF THE MING PERIOD [353]
88.BOX OF PEKIN ENAMEL[353]
89.MING BOWL [353]
90.FINE ALTAR SET OF CLOISONNÉ ENAMELS (CH'IEN LUNG PERIOD) [359]
91.COLLECTION OF BRASS AMULETS (HARNESS BRASSES) [371]

GLOSSARY