The rise of that great craft which
gave to the glaze of the vase and dish
the glory of molten copper, and the
metallic sheen of alloys of tin is traced
back to the great land between the
rivers?the Mesopotamia of old. Prom I
time immemorial the noble lustre
ware. as shown by Lady Evans, has j
been a means by which gallant gen
tlemen sent fond messages to the fair \
and kings exchanged compliments and
gifts. When old Omar wrote In his
Rubalyat of the loaf of bread, the
Jug of wine and thou, surely he must
have thought of one of those lustre
coated Jugs. Are we not told, too. by
Igidy Evans of n rare old bottle In
the Godman collection which sug
gests the same sentiment? The In
scription is "I am wandering in the
desert separated from my well he
loved. I write these words on this
vessel, that they may be a remem
brance of me In the year of the
Heglra 609 (1212 A. D.), trusting that
she of whom I dream evermore may
refresh herself by putting this pitcher
to her Hps; that she will recognize re
writing and take pity on my love."
Whether In the desert, or In the
crowded city, the lordly lustre ware,
has carried its message to the daugh
ters of men. It Is dug out of th>
ruins of Uhagee and found In the wake
of the Moors driven from Hpain. and
if may be traced to the great potteries
of Italy. Everywhere It has borne the
mark of distinction.
