CONTENTS. PAGE Gold, Goldsmiths, Plate, Plated Ware, Electro Silvering, and Processes explained, &c. Steel Punches used in Stamping Plate at Goldsmiths' Hall. 103 Chronological List of Plate from the 15th to the 19th century, History of the Regalia, pillaged, and destroyed; re-made for same GILDA AURIFABRORUM. INTRODUCTION. GOLD and silver may be divided or classified under three genera :1. Infectum. 2. Signatum. 3. Factum. "Aurum infectum" is the unalloyed mass of gold, or ingot of metal before it is formed into shape. "Aurum signatum" refers to the art of stamping coins, or medals, with hardened steel punches or dies. Moneyers, although actually Goldsmiths, employ themselves exclusively in coining. "Aurum factum," of which division we have more especially to treat, is the transformation, by hand, of the metal from the rough, unformed ingot, into objects of a useful and ornamental character. The actual worker of the precious metals was styled Aurifaber, derived from the two Latin words Aurum (gold), and faber (a smith), one who forges by the hammer, or beats into shape, any metal, whether gold, silver, or iron. Thus all smiths are included in the general title of "hammermen." In Scotland, the ancient guild of "Hammermen," included all smiths who wielded the hammer, and it was not until late in the 16th century that the Goldsmiths' craft obtained a charter of incorporation separating them from the common smiths, and giving them jurisdiction only over the working of the precious metals. A goldsmith was styled by the Romans Aurifex, which more properly applies to one who sells Goldsmiths' work after it is finished, while the Aurifaber is one who beats out the metal and fashions it, or is actually a plate-worker. The jewellers' is also a distinct branch of the Goldsmith's trade, making rings, bracelets, and personal ornaments, whereas the plate-worker confines his manipulation to plate, such as vases, and articles for table use, and the more ornamental objects for the Altar and Dressoir. A Goldsmith is a worker in silver as well as gold, and under this designation workers in the precious metals have always been included. They are so called in the Scriptures-"The goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains" (Isaiah). Again-"They lavish gold out of the bag, and weigh silver in the balance, and hire a goldsmith," which custom is continued at the present day in Egypt and India, by giving material to itinerant goldsmiths, who fashion it under the surveillance of their employers. Johannes de Garlandia, who wrote a dictionary of terms, and described the various industries existing in the 11th century in Paris, says, "Les orfèvres se tiennent assis devant leurs fourneaux et leurs tables sur le grand pont. Ils fabriquent des hanaps, des fermails, des colliers, des épingles, des agrafes, en or et en argent. Ils preparent pour les anneaux, des turquoises, des rubis, des saphirs et des éméraudes. Le metier de ces orfèvres consiste à battre, avec des petits marteaux sur l'enclume, des lames d'or et d'argent, et à enchasser les pierres précieuses dans les chatons des bagues à l'usage des barons et des nobles dames." By the Goldsmiths' statutes, "the working of gold or silver, either by a private workman, or by the master shopkeeper, or his delivering out gold or silver to his servants or workmen, to be wrought in any sort of work or ware, either by making, filing, or hammering, or every of them, is, or may, according to ancient usage, and the intent of such statutes, be deemed and taken to be the trade of the Goldsmith; and every person having served an apprenticeship to any one, that before or during the said term, did follow such trade, is, and may properly be called, a Goldsmith."-("Touchstone for Goldsmiths' Wares," Lond. 1671). There was formerly an idea, perhaps more poetical than actual, alluded to by Juvenal and other Latin authors, that gold in contact with heat emitted a sweet and fragrant odour; hence a golden cup when filled with hot liquid, its fragrance, as in mulled wine, became more perceptible and agreeable to the epicure. The ancient Britons also fashioned personal ornaments out of gold and silver, many of which have been exhumed in England, Scotland, and Ireland, notably the broad crescent-shaped "mind" or head ornament; the torquis for the neck; armillæ, "ring money" (so called), gold and silver coins of a later period, probably coeval with the |