NIELLO panlo is given by the Italians to a peculiar kind of ornamental metal-work. Niello is collapsed of an alloy of silver and lead, pr silver and copper, blackened by the action of sulphur. it was first called hut afterwards rifelia. The use alit is occasionally Mentioned in documents from the 7th to the Lurks, at which latter period it had arrived at state • of great excellence, The process ased in working the niello 13-.0 somewhat dmilar M that of enamel incrustation. The /bjeet intended to be ornamented with niellO aad incised or cut into its surface the required resign, into which niello was inlaid in small ;rains, and afterwards fused by the action of he fire, and polished. Originally, the &an. sels in the metal were ant broadly, and an equal depth; giving to the entire cork, after the introduction of the niello, he appearance pf o ride pictage, the eat,. Ines only of which were farmed, spree imes by the niello and sometimes by the netal; but afterwards the designs on the natal were engraved with great delicacy, and iccasionally were carefully shaded by he origin of taking impressions on paper rorn metal plates is ascribed to the practice Finiguerra, a Florentine goldsmith, who, a the middle Pr the 15th century, was in the habit of taking impressions from plates hi had engraved for the purpose p1 asagrtainhu their fitness to receive the Mello. Borne NI
of these old impressions still exist, and with the plates themselves are called itiviii The metal which was engraved to rcoeivp the Mello vas usually either gold, silver, or clipper Many beautifiil specimens of niello werf collected at the Mediaeval Exhibition 1850 including a silver super•altare, a copper:gill ciliorimn, a silver brooch, statuettes of silver plates, and a pax.