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Lapis Lydius, Touchstone, Assaying

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158                 NÀTURAL HISTORY OF GEMS.
flames, and all these metals were mingled together. The Chinese annals add that a number of vases were made at the time out of the material obtained by this commixture. These vases are much esteemed in China, and fetch a high price. (Du Halde.)
I have never been able to discover if any vessels in this composition yet exist ; but their non-appearance would be no argument against the antique, and large, employment of the alloy. The article Coelatura has shown how few of the innumerable pieces of gold and silver plate of those times have come down to us, and the precious alloy of the Corinthian would have consigned it to the same crucible as the works in the purer metals. Add to which its surface now would (from the mixture of copper) he so coated with patina as to render the metal undistinguishable to the eye from ordinary bronze. Perhaps therefore it may be the actual material of the magnificent discus (mirror-case) found at Paramithia, embossed with figures in ex­tremely high relief, with draperies of silver, representing the Visit of Venus to Anchises. The numismatists of the Revival were fond of espying the true Corinthian in the materi al of the large Roman coins, misled by its bright golden colour : they never reflected upon the trifling value of such pieces (four to the denarius) when actually in circulation, That the alloy called aurichalcum was but another name , for the Pyropus (as designating a metal) may be inferred from its name " gold-copper," and from the manner in which Pliny alludes to its appearance and use. He does not anywhere give its composition, which of itself is a reason for supposing he had already described it under another trade-name.* Ho quotes the best bronze, the
* The Pyropus, copper with one-fourth of gold, "only used for making foil " pretenui bractea ignescit " (xxxiv. 20). There was also a leaf-copper (our Dutch leaf) lacquered with ox-gall, called Coronarium from its use in theatrical crowns.
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