rown in your face
to make it look as if it had been "hand-made."

Clever imitations of old work are produced, and indeed some of the
examples shown in our plates are reproductions and not originals; and if
we cannot have new designs of equal excellence this is the next most
desirable thing. And so far as the illustrations are concerned the
difference between the original and the reproduction could never be
distinguished.

The subjects chosen for the illustrations of this number are lanterns
and torch-bearers. The lanterns were in reality torch-bearers, as they
were made for holding masses of combustible material which were held in
place by the central spike.

The curious lanterns that decorate the Strozzi Palace at Florence, and
of which similar specimens are still attached to the angles of the
Riccardi Palace, once the famous residence of the Medici, in the same
city, are among, the best examples of their kind still remaining. We are
informed by Vasari that these "_lumiere miravigliosi_" were the work of
one Nicolo Grosso Caparra, a celebrated artificer of the time, by whom
it is not unlikely that many of the beautiful rings and cressets which
still decorate the old palaces of Siena may have been executed. On the
centre spike was fixed a little iron barrel, containing tow and pitch,
while on each of the other spikes a torch was fastened. In some of the
old engravings of the festivities given at night by the Grand Dukes of
Tuscany, the representations of the effect of this mode of illumination
may be seen. It is said that the privilege of affixing such cressets to
a residence was one conferred by the State only on the most
distinguished citizens, as a peculiar honor, in acknowledgment of
services performed.

[Illustration: XLIX. Wrought Iron Lantern on the Strozzi Palace,
Florence.]

XLIX,

WROUGHT IRON LANTERN ON THE STROZZI PALACE, FLORENCE.

This is one of the finest examples of Italian wrought iron work still
existing, and has frequently served as a model for lanterns in recent
times.

[Illustration: L. Wrought Iron Lantern on the Palazzo Guadagni,
Florence.]

L.

WROUGHT IRON LANTERN ON THE PALAZZO GUADAGNI, FLORENCE.

[Illustration: LI. Wrought Iron Lantern on the Palazzo Bocella, Lucca.]

LI.

WROUGHT IRON LANTERN ON THE PALAZZO BROCELLA, LUCCA.

[Illustration: LII. Wrought Iron Lantern on the Palazzo Baroni nel
Fillungo, Lucca.]

LII.

WROUGHT IRON LANTERN ON THE PALAZZO BARONI NEL FILLUN