THE DECORATIVE ARTS OF THE MIDDLE AGES, ECCLESIASTICAL AND CIVIL. BY HENRY SHAW, F.S.A. London: Pickering. Imperial 8vo. 1851.

HERE are many influential causes which, in recent times, more especially during the past memorable year, have tended to encourage a progressive appreciation of those varied and tasteful productions, which the work before us is destined to illustrate. In a former volume of the Journal, the attention of archaeological enquirers was invited to the series, by which Mr. Shaw, with the reproductive power of his skilful pencil, had placed before them the "Dresses and Decorations" of bygone times, in all their rich

variety. It seemed well devised, by that selection of instructive examples, to lead the admirers of middle-age works to discern with precision the features of various periods; since a correct knowledge of costume, however trivial it may sometimes appear, must be regarded almost as the key to the chronology of all medieval art ;-with the aid, however, so essential to the enquiry, of that distinctive character in the progressive forms of ornament, and their peculiar development in different countries, which stamps the productions of that period.

It is foreign to the present purpose to enter upon the consideration, whether too large a share of popular esteem may have been bestowed of late upon medieval, to the exclusion of classical, art: or to weigh the measure of congeniality with our National dispositions, which may have influenced the predilections of present times. Another, perhaps a more material subject of enquiry, in the actual taste for medieval imitations, must also be here deferred; namely, the legitimate principle, which should regulate these reproductions, and the application of obsolete models, to the requirements of our own age. Whilst, for the present, it may suffice to regard all these works of taste and genius, whether for sacred or domestic uses, as an essential part of the history of social development, as eminently characteristic of the peculiar feelings, of the manners, the daily life of times long past, the appearance of works, such as that under consideration, must be hailed with grateful satisfaction. For, so long as no facilities for study and comparison are afforded in this country, through any National collection of decorative art, it is only by such faithful reproductions of characteristic examples, as those for which we

1 Archaeological Journal, vol. i., p. 284.

are indebted to Mr. Shaw, that we can approach to that precision and truth in our researches, which gives them their greatest charm. To the artist and the manufacturer, the practical advantages accruing from the possession of such a chosen assemblage of models and authorities, must render this volume of essential utility. Whilst popular favour lends strong encouragement to the reproduction of medieval forms, in the elegant appliances of life, it is to be desired that such reproductions should be accurate in detail, and not less free from anomaly or anachronisms, than from the constraint of mere servile imitation.

The attractive work under consideration presents, in small compass, specimens of those beautiful decorative processes which are admired so much in works of the middle ages. Of these ingenious arts some were almost forgotten in England until recent times, and the profuse importation of numerous masterpieces of ancient skill, owing to the late dispersion of some of the finest continental collections. In this volume we find displayed the brilliant effects produced by enamel, encrusted, translucid and painted; the elaborate beauty of metal-work, and sculpture in wood;-of stained glass, of embroideries, and fictile ware. It deserves especial mention that with very few exceptions, these examples have been selected from private collections in our own country; and that, by the kindness of their possessors, the originals are in many instances already known to the Members of the Institute, having been exhibited at their meetings. Amongst these may be named, the exquisite enamelled Triptych of the twelfth century, in the possession of Lord Shrewsbury, with other costly objects, which enriched our museum at the Oxford Meeting;-the rich hangings of raised velvet on a gold ground, belonging to St. Mary's Church, Oxford, displayed on the same occasion ;-the staff of the Rector chori ;-the silver reliquary from Basle, in form of a human foot; and other objects from Mr. Magniac's rich museum, shown at various times at the Society's meetings in London. Of the choral staff, a curious account by the Rev. Dr. Rock will be found in this Journal.—(See p. 203.) Of another highly curious specimen in Mr. Magniac's museum, the crosier found in a tomb of a Bishop of Laon, we are enabled to place before our readers the annexed representation. It was deposited with the remains of Barthélémy de Vir, who died in 1181. The enamelled tints which enrich the foliated ornament of the volute are of singular beauty. We regret that the dimensions of Mr. Shaw's beautiful woodcuts do not permit of our giving here that which represents the remarkable silver thurible exhibited by Mr. Wells at the March meeting of the Institute (see p. 195, ante.) There can be little doubt that this is the work of an English artificer, and it has an additional interest from the circumstance of its preservation, and its discovery during the recent drainage of Whittlesea Mere. Another example of the skill of native metalworkers, in old time, is well shown in the plate representing the iron clausura of the tomb of Eleanor, consort of Edward I. This fine screen was fabricated about 1293 by Thomas de Leghtone, a Bedfordshire smith, and having been taken down some years since, it was sold as old metal, but repurchased by the Chapter, on remonstrance being made. It is through the praiseworthy exertions of the Rev. Dr. Buckland that this work has been now restored to its original position.

There are many other subjects of interest to which we might take occasion to advert, in noticing Mr. Shaw's publication. One of the most

A Morse, Ornamented with Incrusted and Translucid Enamel,

In the Collection of Hollingworth Magniac, Esq.

Date, Early Fourteenth Century.