The Art Of Glass Making.

Eoman dominion , Egypt appears to have supplied the capital of the world ivith glass , evidently , from the terms that are used by classic writers , of a costly description . The Phoenicians probably obtained fche arfc of glassmaking from Egypt , aud established very considerable workshops afc Sidon . Ifc is , no doubt , to this origin that we may attribute the numerous little vases that are

found in all the countries bordering on the Mediterranean , distinguishable by their brilliant and somewhat Egyptian colouring , but with forms of a distinctly Greek character ( Nos . 4850 to 4872 ) . The workshops of Sidon continued to exist under the Roman empire , and may possibly have originated fche later industry of this kind at Damascus .

In Assyria glass-making seems to have been known at an early period ; although many of the specimens discovered at Nineveh are evidently of Roman origin , there are others which are clearly of an earlier date , and one of these , a vase of transparent glass , preserved in the British Museum , is inscribed with the name of Sargon , a monarch who commenced his reign about 722 B . C .

Greece was probably supplied with glass vases from Phosnicia , although manufactories of common glass may have existed there during the Roman dominion . In Rome itself no extensive workshops seem to havo been established till the Imperial times , when they apparently were introduced from Egypt . The

Romans evidently had a special predilection for ornamental glass , and sought to decorate it in various ways , anticipating , not only many of the productions which have been deemed peculiar to Venice , bufc even some of the patented improvements of modern times . The peculiarities of ancient glass-making , its merits , its beauties , and its defects , are amply illustrated by the

collection exhibited by Mr . Webb , from which , however , ifc must be remembered thafc large specimens and commoner productions have been necessarily excluded . During the reigns of some of the later emperors a peculiarly elaborate style of glass-making came into fashion . This consisted of encasing a glass cup in a netivork formed of geometrical patterns , foliageor even

, figures , produced partly by blowing and partly by cutting with tools , and connected with the cup itself by slender stems or rods . One of these cups bears the name of the Emperor Maximianus , ( A . D . 286-310 ); another , and still more remarkable specimen ( No . 4957 ) , is exhibited by Baron Lionel Rothschild , ancl is somewhat later in date .

Tho Byzantine artists seem fco have continued the antique processes , and to have added to them the arfc of enamelling and gilding glass ; an account of their mode of doing this is given by Theophilus , in his "Diversarum Artium . Schedula , " bufc few specimens have been preserved .

The Ai * ab conquerors of Asia Minor may have found the glass works at Sidon still in existence , or they may havo learnt the arfc from the Byzantine Greeks . Afc any rate , during the 13 th and 14 th centuries , they produced some very remarkable specimens of enamelled glass , many of Avhich , being lamps to ornament the mosques , have been preserved to this day . It is

uncertain whether they Avere made in Asia Minor or in Egypt , bufc probably in the former locality , from the frequent mention of Damascus glass in mediasval inventories . It is possible that the comparative proximity of Sidon to Damascus may have led to glass works being established in the latter city . The present collection contains no less than ten specimens of this

oriental glass . The manufacture _ of glass vessels did not become of importance at Venice till tho 15 th century , although the great republic had long carried on a very profitable traffic in beads , a trade in which they had probably succeeded the Phoenicians . They may have been led to make glass vessels , either from their intercourse with Asia Minor , or through workmen from Constan-

The Art Of Glass Making.

tinople—then about to fall . The earlier specimens are generally gilt and enamelled ; in the 16 fch century seems , to have been introduced the manufacture of frosted and miUefiori glass , and still later of schineh and laceglass . These A arieties of glass-making Avill be more , fully noticed under their sepai * ate headings . During the 16 th century there were extensive

manufactories of glass in Erance , the workmen of which possessed considerable privileges : it is nofc , however , very clear whether they produced table glass in any quantities ,, their chief efforts being directed to window glass . Among the numerous manufactories introduced or patronised by Queen Elizabeth was that of glass-making ,, which was established by foreigners , who employed

workmen from Lorraine . The manufactory does not , however ,, appear to have been very successful , and confined its attention chiefly to window glass . In the following century the importation into England of drinking glasses from . Venice seems to have been considerable . Germany , likewise , had extensive Avorkshops for glass ; . the ornamental pieces were chiefly cylindrical beakers

with covers , adorned wifch heraldic devices and inscriptions . Still later , some very remarkable specimens of engraved glass Avere produced ; and Knuckel , by his beautiful ruby glass , added greafcly to the renoAvn of the German Avorkshops . An interesting history of unique glass was published by Minutoli " Ueber die anfertigung der Glaser " ( 1836 ) .

Some account of the ancient processes may be found in Apsley Pellatt ' s Curiosities of Glass-maliing ; many details concerning Venetian glass are given in M . Labarfe ' s introduction to tho catalogue of the Debruge-Domenil collection ; and a slight sketch of the subject appeared , in Art Treasures at Manchester , Vitreous Arfc .

Canyngton Priory And Fair Rosamund.

CANYNGTON PRIORY AND FAIR ROSAMUND .

At the recent meeting of the Somerset Archaeological Society , the Rev . Thomas Hugo read a paper on " Canyntou Priory . " We print the pith of it . A little more than three miles from Bridgwater , on the road from that town through Nether Stowey ancl Williton to Dunster and Porloclc , stands the pleasant village of C ' anyngton . One first gets a glimpse of the tall and stately tower of its parish church on surmounting the rising ground at Wembdon , from

whence the eye embraces a spacious expanse of cultivated valley , backed by the lofty mass of mountain limestone known by the name of Canyngton Park , and bounded on the right by the flat banks of the Park , and on the left by the green glades of Brymore . As he approaches tbe village , the traveller finds that the description of Leland , who journeyed over the same road three centuries ago , is still applicable in the main to the scene before him . Canyngton is yet " a praty uplandisch towne , " and our

modern wayfarer , as he enters it , " passes , " as did his predecessor , " over a bygge brook that risith not far of by west yn the hylles , and passing by Canyngtun reniieth into the haven of Bridgwater , a 2 . miles and more by estimation lower then Bridgwater . " ( Lei . I tin . ii ., 98 . ) The place , although now nothing more than a village , has an air of having once been of far greater importance . On approaching the church the eye is immediately attracted by some venerable enclosures , which

surround an area of several acres , and unmistakeably suggest the ancient tenure of the spot by some religious community . The church itself , as it noiv appears , can hardly be said to merit the praise that Leland bestowed upon it , of being " very fair and Avelle adornyd . " It is a restored specimen of Somersetshire Perpendicular , despoiled of its most interesting features , and is far surpassed by many of the glorious churches for which the neighbourhood is widely distinguished . Adjacent to the north

side of tlie chancel , Avhich is on that side without Aviudows , ivas a Priory of Benedictine Nuns . Their church , according to Leland , Avas " hard adnexid to the est of the Parocbe Chu-ch . " ( Lei . Itin . ij ., 68 ) . Very little is now to be seen of this structure , as the vicissitudes AA'hich the place has witnessed have all but obliterated the evidences of its earlier tenants , and that Avhich is still visible has carefully to be sought for among those manifold alterations with ivhich the successive holders Avho cared little or nothing for the ancient possessors of the