There are many other branches of British and Irish art which may have been influenced in their origin by the long established basket-work of these islands, such as the early enamelling of metals, the Norman arcades, especially those found on very early fonts, the branching arrangement of the oldest window glass, as well as the reticulated manner of placing glazing quarries, and very numerous varieties of mediæval diapering; but I omit farther notice of these. My purpose in this paper is merely to call attention to the probable origin of one branch of ancient art which I believe to have escaped previous notice. If I have in any degree established my position, or even excited curiosity respecting it, it will doubtless induce further inquiry and discussion, since it is beyond doubt a subject of very considerable interest. FINIS. _Charles Simms and Co., Printers, Manchester._ FOOTNOTES [1] _Archæological and Pre-historic Annals of Scotland_, pp. 221, 504, 505. [2] _The Sculptured Stones of Scotland_, privately printed by the Spalding Club, and liberally presented to many antiquarian societies. [3] _The Sculptured Crosses of Ancient Ireland_, by Henry O’Neill. [4] _The Runic and other Monumental Remains of the Isle of Man_, by the Rev. J. G. Cumming. [5] _Annals of Clanmacnoise_, quoted in notes to the _Annals of the Four Masters_, vol. i. p. 181. [6] _William of Malmesbury_, book i. c. 20. [7] _Pre-historic Annals of Scotland_, p. 76. [8] Information from Mr. Hughes, of Chester, 1858. [9] McIan’s _Highland Clans_—_McNiel_. [10] _Essay on Custom and Education._ [11] Thomas Dinley’s _Journal of a Tour in Ireland: Proceedings of the Kilkenny Archæological Society_, vol. i. p. 180, New Series. [12] Adde et bascaudas et mille escaria. _Juvenal_, Sat. 12, v. 46. [13] Barbara de pictis veni bascauda Britannis Sed me jam mavult dicere Roma suam. _Martial_, lib. 14, epig. 99. [14] In the Saxon poem _Beowulf_, translated by the late Mr. Kemble, there occurs this passage:—“He went to the hall, stood on the steps, and beheld the steep roof with gold adorned.” Line 1844. [15] See on Plate No. 6, examples of British urns, copied from Plate iii. of the _Archæological Index_, by J. Y. A. Kerman Esq., F.S.A. [16] _History of Ancient Pottery_, vol. ii. pp. 381-384. [17] Bede’s _Ecclesiastical History_, book i. chap. 12. [18] _De Bell. Gal._, lib. vi. [19] _Strabo_, lib. iv. [20] Plate xxvi. _Sculptured stones of Scotland._ [21] Plate No. 3. [22] Plate No. 4. [23] _Pinkerton’s Vitæ Sanctorum Scotiæ_, pp. 286-7, quoted in the preface to the _Sculptured Stones of Scotland_, p. 5. [24] _Ulster Journal of Archæology_, vol. v. p. 81. [25] From _Patricius His Purgatory_, attributed to Spottiswood Bishop of Clogher, and also to his successor Bishop Jones, quoted in the _Ulster Journal of Archæology_, vol. v. p. 71, and in Carleton’s tale of “The Lough Derg Pilgrim.”