. Illustrations of the remains of Roman art, in Cirencester, the site of antient Corinium . e of copper and zinc; so that though the Roman bronzes often getthe name of brasses—and, by the way, have not unfi-equently beenendeavoured to be imitated by the English metal, even in Cirencester—theantiquarian novice should always look with suspicion upon antiques ofthe brass colour. The universal use of bronze, in matters so different from each other,ceases to be a matter of surprise when we consider that copper and tinwere the earliest metals known; these also could be reduced from theirores with co
. Illustrations of the remains of Roman art, in Cirencester, the site of antient Corinium . e of copper and zinc; so that though the Roman bronzes often getthe name of brasses—and, by the way, have not unfi-equently beenendeavoured to be imitated by the English metal, even in Cirencester—theantiquarian novice should always look with suspicion upon antiques ofthe brass colour. The universal use of bronze, in matters so different from each other,ceases to be a matter of surprise when we consider that copper and tinwere the earliest metals known; these also could be reduced from theirores with comparative ease, and though they are both of them soft metalsin the separate state, yet tliey can be mixed in such proportions as to be ashard as steel. But the great reason why this compound was employed insuch varieties of work seems to be, that, though the resulting compoundwas harder than copper, yet it was more fusible, so that whilst the facilitiesfor modelling were increased, the objects made in it were harder and moredurable than if tliev had been formed of the unmixed 32. Handle of a Stcwpan. • The figures illustrating this subject are all of the -actual size. WOEKS IN METAL. 103 So general was the use of the mixed metals, copper and tin, that we findthe culinary vessels of the Romans were made almost entirely of theresultant bronze. The engraving (32) represents what we take to be the handle of astewpan, or some cooking utensil: an entire vessel of bronze, with ahandle of the same size and pattern as the present, was found at Gloucester,and is now in the British Museum. It may appearsurprising that vessels of this kind are not oftenerfound, but it must be borne in mind that these werethings which could readily be understood and usedby successors, and thus they would become worn out,when the old parts could still be re-cast in some otherform. It would appear that bronze was also used forhandles to difierent instruments of iron, for to noother purpose can w
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, booksubjectartroman, bookyear185
