had under the various degrading influences to which it was exposed during the Roman and Byzantine period gradually become barbarised, I have no doubt that this patera is of Eastern workmanship, possibly of colonists from Rome ] and we may conjecture it to have been taken among the spoil when Antioch fell to the Persians, A.m 540. It may, however, be ancient Indian work of Bactria of the same age as the Buddhist sculptures of Peshawar, which it closely resembles in its composition and modelling.
The Panjab has ever maintained a high reputation for the excellence of its gold and silver work. The best known is the parcel gilt silver work of Cashmere, which is almost confined to the production of the water- vessels or surah , copied from the clay goblets in use throughout the northern parts of the Pan jab. Their elegant shapes and delicate tracery, graven through the gilding to the dead white silver below, which softens the lustre of the gold to a pearly radiance, gives a most charming effect to this refined and graceful work. It is an art said to have been imported by the Mongols, but influenced by the natural superiority of the people of the Cashmere valley over all other Orientals in elaborating decorative details of good design, whether in metal work, ham- mered and cut, or enamelling, or weaving. Cups are also made in this work, and trays of a very pretty four-cornered pattern, the corners being shaped like the Mahommedan arch. Among the Prince of Wales* Indian presents there is a tray with six cups and saucers in “ ruddy gold/* which is an exquisite example of the goldsmith* s art of Cashmere. There is also in the Prince of Wales* collection a remarkable candelabrum, in silver gilt, from Srinagar, shaped like a conventional tree, and ornamented all over- with the crescent and flame device, and hanging fishes, its design being evidently derived through Persia from a Turkoman original. The candelabra seen in Hindu temples constantly take this tree form, without the addition of the symbols of the sky and
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ether j and trees of solid gold and silver, representing the mango
