PORTLAND VASE. This beautiful specimen of ancient art is one of the choicest treasures deposited in the British Museum. The time of its production is now unknown ; but it is presumed to be the work of a Grecian artist. The first information we have respecting it is that Rhea the Middle of the 18th century the vase was found enclosed in a marble sarco phagus, within a sepulchral chamber, under the eminence called the Monte del Grano, about two miles and a half from Rome on the road to Frascati. This sepulchral chamber appears to have been the tomb of the Emperor Alexander Severn and of his mother Julia Ithuninma ; and the vase was probably a cinerary urn belonging to the sepulchre. The elegance of form and the admirable ship of the vase procured for it a place in the palace of the Barberini family at Rome, where it remained more than two centuries ; after which it became the property of Sir William Hamilton, from whom it passed to the Duchess of Portland. In 1810 it was deposited in the
British Museum by the Duke of Portland. On Feb. 7, 1845, a young man, a visitor at the museum, wilfully broke the vase into several pieces by throwing a stone at it. The offender was secured, and punished by im prisonment. He seemed to be influenced by no other motive than a morbid desire for notoriety. The fragments of the vase were afterwards joined together, and the work re stored far more successfully than might have been anticipated.
This vase was said by Montfaucon to be formed of a precious stone; but subsequent examinations has shown the material to be dark blue glass, relieved by figures and devices in white enamel. It is about ten inches in height.