were exceedingly varied; the heads of animals frequently formed handles or ears of remarkable beauty; the ibex and the gazelle were very often chosen as favourite forms, while upon the Canaanitish vases, the preference was rather given to the head of a heifer, or sometimes the head of an idol, which has been identified as that of Baal. Whole-length figures of captives sometimes supported a vessel; and frequently hideous or grotesque forms elaborated from the most brilliant materials, proved that bad taste is not confined to any age or country. In not a few of the cups we see unequivocal imitations of the corolla of some elegant flower, and very many were adorned around the edge with figures of the ever-welcome blossom of the lotus.

In these elegant forms and beautiful workmanship we are reminded of many of the costly vessels and utensils of the Divine Sanctuary. The "dishes thereof, and spoons thereof, and covers thereof, and bowls thereof to pour out [marg.] withal, of pure gold," may well be supposed to have had their counterparts in forms with which the Egyptian antiquarian is now familiar; while the description of the candlestick, though unique in its individuality, reminds us of the flower-adorned vessels of which we have just spoken.

And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold; of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same. And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick, out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side:

*Exod. xxv. 29.

three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch, and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower; so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick. And in the candlestick shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers. Exod. xxv. 31—34.

The delicate art of gilding must have been wellknown to the Israelites. We find the ark of the covenant and its staves, the table of shew bread and its staves, the boards and bars and pillars of the tabernacle, all overlaid with gold. But the magnificent temple of Solomon must have been one blaze of gilding; for he

Overlaid the house within with pure gold, and he made a partition by the chains of gold before the oracle; and he overlaid it with gold. And the whole house he overlaid with gold, until he had finished all the house: also the whole altar that was by the oracle he overlaid with gold.

And he overlaid the cherubims with gold.

.. he ..

And the floor of the house he overlaid with gold, within and without. The two doors also overlaid with gold, and spread gold upon the cherubims and upon the palm trees. 1 Kings vi. 20-32.

It is interesting to find not only from the testimony of the classic writers, but from abundant evidence now before our own eyes, of which any reader may see specimens in the British Museum, that gilding was profusely used by the Egyptian artists, long before the time of the Exodus, and that it was applied to objects among others singularly correspondent to those just mentioned. "Many gilt bronze vases, implements of various kinds, trinkets, statues, toys, and other objects in metal and wood, have been discovered in the tombs of Thebes: the faces of

* Exod. xxv, xxvi.

mummies are frequently found overlaid with thick gold-leaf; the painted cloth, the wooden coffin, were also profusely ornamented in this manner; and the whole body itself of the deceased was sometimes gilded, previous to its being enveloped in the bandages. Not only were small objects appertaining to the service of the gods, and connected with religion, or articles of luxury and show, in the temples, tombs, or private houses, so decorated; the sculptures on the lofty walls of an adytum, the ornaments of a colossus, the doorways of the temples, and parts of numerous large monuments, were likewise covered with gilding; of which the wooden heifer which served as a sepulchre to the body of king Mycerinus's daughter, the sculptures at the temple of Kalabshi in Nubia, the statue of Minerva sent to Cyrene by Amasis, and the Sphinx at the pyramids may be cited as instances.'

The process of gilding inferior metals by an amalgam of mercury, was unknown to the Egyptians. They invariably applied the gold upon a factitious surface of stucco or plaster; but as this would not adhere to a metallic body, a cloth was tightly strained round the object, on which the plaster was then applied.

A curious kind of overlaying with plates of metal occurs in the representation of some vases and jars, as early as the time of Joseph. The vessel, or a portion of it, was covered with narrow oval plates, overlapping one another in the manner of the scales of a fish, whence the idea was probably taken. Other

*Wilk. iii. 236.

ornamental objects were constructed of bronze, the surface of which was deeply engraven, and the intaglio filled with gold or silver hammered into it; the

effect of which when polished must have been particularly beautiful.

In the description of the "holy garments" made for Aaron, "for glory and for beauty," mention is made of gold thread which was interwoven into the structure of the ephod, and the "curious girdle."

And he made the ephod of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen. And they did beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, with cunning work. Exod. xxxix. 2, 3.

Gold wire of considerable fineness occurs bound round signet-rings of a period as early as the time of Abraham, and specimens of silver wire are found of the era of Joseph. Herodotus mentions a corslet of Egyptian manufacture, presented by Amasis to the