Objects of bronze of native origin are less frequently met with in Spain than those of silver and iron. Many foreign artists worked at this industry, the history of which only begins in the 16th century. The specimens of bronze work made by the Moors will be described in their proper place. It is true that examples of bronze made by the Iberians and Romans are frequently met with in excavations; they consist chiefly of hatchets and other arms, bracelets, fibulas, etc., but they are similar in every respect to objects of the same kind found in other European countries. During the Middle Ages, objects of enamelled gilt bronze were used on a very large scale in churches; specimens of a very high order may be seen in Spain, such as the splendid altar at San Miguel de Excelsis in Navarre; that at Santo Domingo de Silos, and the statuette of the Virgin de la Vega at San Esteban, Salamanca. These objects were, however, probably made at Limoges, or in some other locality out of Spain. We hardly can trace any bronze of this period but cathedral bells. One was made at Puig-Valencia as early as A.D. 622, melted in 1550, the only trace of the early work being the inscription and date, which are given by contemporary authors. Another bell, about half a foot high, of A.D. 875, exists at the Local Museum of Cordova, with the inscription: "_Offert hoc munus Samson abbatis in domum Sancti Sebastiani martyris Christi, Era_ DCCCCXIII." We find the name of "_Joannes Calcena me fecit Anno Domini 1306_," on a bell at the cathedral of Valencia, and on one of Lerida was to be read: "_Fecit factum per magistrum Joannem Adam Anno Dei 1418 in mense Aprili_;" the author appears to have been, by reference to the documents of the church, "_de burgo Sanctæ Mariæ Turlensis diocesis regni Franciæ_," for details see Villanueva, vol. ii., p. 147-152, xvi. 88.