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Onyx, Nicolo

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ONYX.
263
of Nero, a groat dilettante, as Pliny records, in murrhine and crystal vases ; in fact, on one of his coins (in small brass), the reverse presents a table supporting similar symbols, and alto­gether recalling the ornamentation of this carchesium. By a singular coincidence, we find here a Dionysiac utensil dedicated to the service of a St. Dionysius, and reverting to its original destination. For after its presentation in the ninth century, by Charles the Bald to the abbey of St. Denys, it was thenceforward used, according to the tradition preserved by Marion du Mersan, to hold the consecrated wine at the coronation of the queens of France. Its gold mounting bore a legend, added at the time of its dedication :
" Hoc vas Christe tibi devota mente sacravit Tertius in Franco sublimis regmine Carlus.
It was stolen in 1804 from the Musée, and its gold mounting enriched with gems melted down by the thieves ; fortunately they were arrested in Holland, and the vase recovered un­damaged ; and it has been elegantly remounted by Delafontaine. One fact shows the high value formerly set upon this relic : Henri II. pawned it to the Jews of Metz for a million of livres tournois (50,000Z.), equivalent to five times that amount in modern currency.
Next in importance amongst these relics of imperial splendour comes the Farnese Tazza, a scyphus, or flat bowl, cut out of a single piece, eight inches wide by two deep, and carved with a subject in the Egyptian taste, allusive to the influence of the Nile. It is said to have been discovered in the penetralia of Hadrian's Mausoleum, when explored in the 16th century. It was purchased for 10,000 ducats, and has long adorned the Museum at Naples ; a memento of the Farnese Princes of Parma.
Still more famous from its history is the Mantuan, or Bruns­wick Vase, an alabastron, or tall perfume jar, with narrow neck, five inches high by two in the greatest diameter. The relief upon it refers to the Eleusinian Mysteries, representing Ceres with Triptolemus in her dragon-borne car, three votaresses with their oiferings, and the exergue filled up with masks and other Bacchic symbols. The style indicates, in the opinion of the most competent judges, the age of the Antonines, the middle of
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