Chapter II: Preface

The collection of old metal may at first sight appear a somewhat unattractive hobby; a moment's reflection, however, brings to mind the wonderful art treasures of metal in our museums, gathered together from many parts of the world; not necessarily of the precious metals, for many of the most cunningly contrived objects of antiquarian research are of copper in one or more of its numerous forms of alloy.

Copper is the basis of so many alloys of which metallic curios are formed, that in its combination with other metals it gives the collector an almost inexhaustible field of research. It was the metal of the ancients, which in combination with tin gave them that useful metal with which to fashion weapons of offence and defence, and later, as the Bronze Age advanced, utilitarian objects of household economy.

Collectors find the Age of Metals unfolding as they arrange their collections with orderly sequence, and thereby trace the progress of artificers throughout the periods which have intervened since the first bronze celt was moulded to the present day. Although this is the Age of Iron and the numerous materials which metallurgical research and scientific skill have produced, copper, and brass in its varied forms, are still prominent, and the almost inexhaustible supply of copper with which Nature has provided us is still being drawn from.

In this work the curios and artistic objects of use and ornament which have come down to us, contributed by craftsmen of many ages and of many countries, are passed in review. The object of so doing has been to awaken still greater interest--if that is possible--in the collection of copper and brass, and to preserve to futurity metal objects from which the utilitarian purpose of their manufacture is fast waning--if not already gone.

Although the rarest and most costly objects are to be found in museums and the galleries of the wealthy, there are many still in the homes of the people, and there are many who seek and obtain pleasure and delight from the collection of the curious and the beautiful who cannot afford the unique specimens which are so costly. To such this book should appeal, for the descriptions and the illustrations have been drawn from many sources, and their selection has by no means been confined to the rarer types.

The illustrations are reproductions of photographs which have been willingly furnished by owners of collections and museum authorities. A large number, too, have been specially drawn for this work by my daughter, Miss Ethel Burgess.

I gratefully acknowledge the kindness of those who have allowed me to make use of objects in their collections. I would especially bear testimony to the courtesy of the Directors of the British Museum who have authorized their printers, The University Press, Oxford, to furnish blocks of some of the most interesting metal objects in the Galleries. The Director of the Victoria and Albert Museum has granted facilities for the reproduction of some of the beautiful metal-work at South Kensington.

My thanks are especially due to Mr. Guy Laking, M.V.O., F.S.A., who, although in the midst of the removal of the London Museum from Kensington Palace to its new home at Stafford House, has kindly supplied several photographs of scarce metal objects. Special drawings have been made of several representative objects in the Guildhall Museum, through the courtesy of the Curator.

Permission has been granted to reproduce photographs and illustrations of objects in several of the more important provincial Museums, and in several instances some very interesting information has been given by the Curators. Among others I should like to give the names of Mr. F. R. Rowley, Curator of the Royal Albert Memorial Museum at Exeter; Mr. T. Sheppard, F.G.S., F.S.A.Scot., Curator of the Municipal Museum, Hull; Dr. Hoyle, Director of the National Museum of Wales, Cardiff; Mr. J. A. Charlton Deas, F.R.Hist.S., Director of the Museum and Art Gallery, Sunderland; Mr. Thos. Midgley, F.R.Met.S., Chadwick Museum, Bolton; Mr. R. Rathbun, Assistant Secretary of the United States National Museum, Washington; and the Town Clerk of Winchester.

I am further indebted to Messrs. Glendining & Co., Ltd., who have given me permission to reproduce some beautiful Oriental metal-work which has recently passed under the hammer in their London Galleries; also to Messrs. Herbert Benham & Co., for a drawing of the copper ball and cross of St. Paul's; and to Mr. Amor, of St. James's, S.W., The Edward Gallery, of King Street, S.W., and Mr. Chas. Wayte, of Edenbridge, who have given me photographs of rare pieces of art metal-work.

I have endeavoured to refrain from technicalities or dry descriptions; but some of the chapters have necessarily a touch of the workshop and the foundry about them. I can assure my readers, however, that the "metallic ring" is inseparable from copper and brass, and that the pleasures of possession will be added to by the better understanding it will impart to those who collect and admire similar objects to those referred to in this work.

FRED. W. BURGESS.
LONDON, 1914.

CONTENTS

PAGE
PREFACE 7

GLOSSARY 23

CHAPTER I

THE METAL AND ITS ALLOYS 35
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.

CHAPTER II

THE HUNTING GROUND 51
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.

CHAPTER III

PREHISTORIC BRONZES. 63
The dawn of progress--London relics--The beauty of
ancient art--The useful bronzes, the prototypes of later
brasses--The forger at work.

CHAPTER IV

GREEK AND ROMAN CURIOS 77
Grecian bronzes--Relics of Roman occupation--Interesting
toilet requisites--Artificial lighting--Statues and
monuments--Romano-British art--A well-staged exhibit.

CHAPTER V
MEDIÆVAL ANTIQUITIES 93
Domestic brasswork--Metal signs and badges--Ornamental
trinkets--Arms and armour.

CHAPTER VI

LATER METAL-WORK 111
The influence of the Guilds--Architectural metal-work--The
door knocker--Interior metal-work.

CHAPTER VII

CHURCH BRASSWORK 133
Candlesticks--Altar brasses--Metal architectural
ornament--Memorial brasses.

CHAPTER VIII

DOMESTIC UTENSILS 153
The kitchen--The houseplace--Chimney and other
ornaments--Classified arrangement.

CHAPTER IX

CANDLESTICKS AND LAMPS 193
Fire-making apparatus--Candles and candlesticks--Oil
lamps and lanterns.

CHAPTER X

BELLS AND BELL-METAL CASTINGS 215
The founders' secrets--Great bells of historic fame--The
uses of bells--Old mortars.

CHAPTER XI

CIVIC EMBLEMS AND WEIGHTS AND MEASURES 229
The ancient horn--The badge of office--Weighing
instruments--Measures in Exeter Museum--Our standards.

CHAPTER XII

BRONZES AND THEIR REPLICAS 247
Early figure modelling--Statues in public places--Replicas
in miniature.

CHAPTER XIII

ORIENTAL BRONZES AND BRASSES 261
Countries of origin--How some Oriental curios are derived--A
wealth of metal on view--Various Indian wares--Chinese
and Japanese art.

CHAPTER XIV
IDOLS AND TEMPLE RELICS 289
Varied shrines and many idols--Indian idols--Temple
vases and ornaments.

CHAPTER XV
NATIVE METAL-WORK 303
Outside influences--Benin bronzes--Other African curios.

CHAPTER XVI

CONTINENTAL COPPER AND BRASS 313
Italian bronzes--French art--Dutch brasswork--German
metal-work.

CHAPTER XVII

SUNDIALS, CLOCKS, AND BRASS INSTRUMENTS 327
The mystery of dialling--Some old dials--Antique clocks--Old
watches--The weather--Scientific instruments.

CHAPTER XVIII

ENAMELS ON COPPER 347
Processes of enamelling--Chinese and Japanese enamels--British
enamels.

CHAPTER XIX

MISCELLANEOUS METAL CURIOS 361
Tobacco-boxes and pipe-stoppers--Snuff-boxes--Handles
and handle-plates--Horse-trappings--War relics--Tiny
curios--Replicas.