“The vessels--on which are displayed a variety of hunting subjects, representations of fishes, scrolls, and human figures--were all glazed after the figures were laid on; where, however, the decorations are white, the vessels were glazed before the ornaments were added. Ornamenting with figures of animals was effected by means of sharp and blunt skewer instruments and a slip of suitable consistency. These instruments seem to have been of two kinds--one thick enough to carry sufficient slip for the nose, neck, body, and front thigh; the other of a more delicate kind, for a thinner slip, for the tongue, lower jaws, eye, fore and hind legs, and tail. There seems to have been no retouching, after the slip trailed from the instrument. Field sports seem to have been favourite subjects with our Romano-British artists. The representations of deer and hare hunts are good and spirited; the courage and energy of the hounds, and the distress of the hunted animals are given with great skill and fidelity, especially when the simple and off-handed process by which they must have been executed is taken into consideration.”[11] [Illustration: Fig. 111.--The Colchester Vase.] [Illustration: Fig. 112.--Castor Ware.] [Illustration: Figs. 113 to 115.--Castor Ware.] [Illustration: Figs. 116 and 117. Fig. 118. Fig. 119. Fig. 120. Figs. 121 and 122. Fig. 123. Fig. 124. Foliated patterns on Castor Ware.] Two vessels with these hunting subjects are given in Figs. 108 and 110; and other designs of this character, exhibiting stag and hare hunts, are shown on Figs. 103 to 109. Gladiatorial combats are also frequent subjects for representation on the Castor vases. One of these is given on Fig. 111, which represents one side of the celebrated “Colchester vase;” Fig. 103 being the design of another of its sides. The next engraving (Fig. 112) shows the chariot race in the Roman racecourse or stadium--the quadriga being well, although rudely, fashioned, and the position both of the horses and charioteer boldly conceived. Mythological subjects were also common. One of these, of the indented form, restored from fragments, is given in the accompanying engraving (Fig. 113). [Illustration: Fig. 125. Fig. 126. Fig. 127. Castor Ware.]