that art more perfectly than any other master had ever done."
Baccio Baldini, also, was a goldsmith, although a greater portion
of his ability was turned in the direction of engraving. His pupil
Maso Finniguerra, who turned also to engraving, began his career
as a goldsmith.

The great silver altar in the Baptistery in Florence occupied nearly
all the goldsmiths in that city. In 1330 the father of the Orcagnas,
Cione, died; he had worked for some years before that on the altar.
In 1366 the altar was destroyed, but the parts in bas-relief by
Cione were retained and incorporated into the new work, which was
finished in 1478. Ghiberti, Orcagna, Verocchio, and Pollajuolo,
all executed various details of this magnificent monument.

Goldsmiths did not quite change their standing and characteristics
until late in the sixteenth century. About that time it may be said
that the last goldsmith of the old school was Claude Ballin, while
the first jeweller, in the modern acceptation of the word, was Pierre
de Montarsy.

Silver has always been selected for the better household utensils,
not only on account of its beauty, but also because of its ductility,
which is desirable in making larger vessels; its value, too, is
less than that of gold, so that articles which would be quite out
of the reach of most householders, if made in gold, become very
available in silver. Silver is particularly adapted to daily use,
for the necessary washing and polishing which it receives keeps
it in good condition, and there is no danger from poison through
corrosion, as with copper and brass.

In the middle ages the customary pieces of plate in English homes
were basins, bottles, bowls, candlesticks, saucepans, jugs, dishes,
ewers and flagons, and chafing-dishes for warming the hands, which
were undoubtedly needed, when we remember how intense the cold
must have been in those high, bare, ill-ventilated halls! There
were also large cups called hanaps, smaller cups, plates, and
porringers, salt-cellars, spoons, and salvers. Forks were of much
later date.

There are records of several silver basins in the Register of John
of Gaunt, and also in the Inventory of Lord Lisle: one being "a
basin and ewer with arms" and another, "a shaving basin." John of
Gaunt also owned "a silver bowl for the kitchen." If the mediaeval
household lacked comforts, it could teach us lessons in luxury
in some other departments! He also had a "pair of silver bottles,
partly