Three other tombs which rival the Polledrara in size and importance are the Regulini-Galassi tomb at Caere,[2294] the Tomba del Duce at Vetulonia,[2295] and the Bernardini tomb at Praeneste.[2296] Although the finds of pottery herein were small, they are yet of great interest for the history of Etruscan art in general, especially as they afford evidence for approximate dating. In the two former Etruscan inscriptions were found. The Caere and Praeneste tombs are probably the earliest, about 650 B.C., and the Del Duce and Polledrara tombs are not later than the end of the seventh century. ------------------------------------------------------ PLATE LVI [Illustration: EARLY ETRUSCAN POTTERY. 1. CAULDRON AND STAND OF RED WARE FROM FALERII; 2. PAINTED AMPHORA OF RED WARE (POLLEDRARA TOMB) (BRITISH MUSEUM). ] ------------------------------------------------------ In the Regulini-Galassi tomb the pottery takes the form of large caldrons of red glazed ware, which mark a transitional stage between the _impasto_ and _bucchero_. They are characterised by the large Gryphons’ heads projecting in relief round the sides, to which are attached chains. Sometimes they are supported on high open-work stands. In 1892 the British Museum acquired a series of these and similar vases (Plate LVI.), including some plain specimens of _bucchero_ ware from early tombs at Civita Castellana (Falerii: see Vol. I. p. 75). * * * * * =Bucchero ware.=—This may be called the national pottery of Etruria. Its technique is not at present perfectly known, and analysis does not show certainly whether the black paste is natural or artificial. Modern experiments have been made which seem to indicate that this result may be obtained by fumigating or smoking the clay in a closed chamber after the baking, which process blackens the clay throughout.[2297] But M. Pottier[2298] thinks that the black surface was obtained not by fumigation of the vase, but by applying a slip of pounded charcoal already smoked, which at a moderate temperature would permeate the clay. The surface was then covered with wax and resin, and polished, like the Polledrara hydria. A combination of analyses of the paste made by Brongniart[2299] gives the following result: Silica 60-70 parts. Clay earth 12-16 ” Carbonate of lime 2-4 ” Magnesia 1-2 ” Water 8-10 ” Carbon 1 -3 ”