Class XXVII.] WORKS IX CAEX STONE, BATH OOLITE, AND FREESTONE.

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thus admirably adapted for ornamental work in architec-ture, especially when sheltered from the weather. It maybo had in blocks of any reasonable size and proportions, andis the finest and most valuable stone of its kind obtainedfrom the secondary rocks. For certain kinds of exposureit is inferior to some of the English oolitic stones, butnone excels it for internal work.

So readily worked and beautiful a material has na-turally been selected by several persons to execute objectsin sculptured stone worthy of the Great Exhibition ; butit is, perhaps, somewhat remarkable that none of thesecome from France , where the material is so abundant. 1Of the exhibitors in this stone, the Jury have selectedthree as worthy of the Prize Medal, and one they Men-tion Honourably. We may proceed to describe thesemore minutely.

Mr. Myers (Class XXVI., 533, p. 701) exhibits a num-ber of objects sculptured in Caen stone, most of whichare placed in what is called the Mediaeval Court. Theseare imitative of English mediaeval architectural deco-ration, and are chiefly, though not entirely, ecclesias-tical in their uses. The execution of the stone-workis in all of them extremely good; the different objectsare perfectly correct in execution, and the distribution ofthe details is effectually and well combined with unity ofdesign, showing clearly the artist’s knowledge of hissubject and of art. A Prize Medal has been awarded tothis exhibitor.

The canopied niche, containing a figureof St. Peter, de-signed and executed by Messrs. Lane and Lewis, of Bristol(53, p. 767), is good both in style and execution, and socreditable in every respect, that the Jury felt no difficultyin awarding a Prize Medal to these exhibitors. The stoneis of fine quality, and the treatment well adapted to thematerial. The statue of St. Peter especially is delicatelyand skilfully worked, and the smaller figures of ourSaviour and the Evangelists are well executed. At thesame time it should be observed, that the drapery and poseof the figures are not strictly Gothic, although in goodkeeping with the architecture, which is distinctly de-fined and well finished, especially in the ornamental parts.The work is not cut out of a single block, which couldhave been done, although with difficulty, and in thisrespect it cannot rank so highly as a work in oue piece ofstone would do.

The font by Messrs. Margetts and Eyi.es(91, p. 771),also rewarded with a Prize Medal, is a very fine specimenof sculptured stone, although there is a want of freedomand finish observable in some parts. The general styleand execution is, however, excellent, and some of the de-tails of the figures are very beautiful.

A sepulchral monument of the decorative period, byMr. R. Brown (52, p. 767), has been considered worthyof Honourable Mention. It is well conceived and wellexecuted, and is creditable both in design and workman-ship.

A cross of large size, sculptured in Caen stone by thelion. Mrs. Ross, and exhibited in the West Nave (79,p. 852), is worthy of notice as being the work not onlyof an amateur, but of a lady.

In addition to these objects, there is a chimney-pieceby Mr. Frewkr, of Ipswich (5, p. 764), showing muchskill, and having a number of minute but imperfectlyfinished details- The design is allegorical, but not car-ried out completely. A singular monument of new form(that of a three-sided prism) has been sent by Mr.Baker, of Southampton (54, p. 767); aud some smallbut creditable models, by Mr. Laerie, complete the listof sculptured works in Caen stone. The quality of thestone is shown in some specimens in Class I. (No. 176,p. 772), exhibited by Messrs. Luard, Bekdiiam, and Co.(p. 13S), importers; and these are of considerable interestand value, as, in addition to recently cut surfaces, theyinclude fragments which have been exposed for severalcenturies to the weather both in England and France .

d. I For As in Bath Stone,

especially a London atmosphere; so that few artistshave thought it worth while to exert their talents ona stone of so little durability. The substance is some-times of good colour, works freely, and is obtained inconsiderable blocks; but it falls far short of Caen stone in every respect. A vase and pedestal, elaboratelycarved and exhibited by Mr. Vaughan (20, p. 765), showthe extent to which the chisel may be used in it; and abust of Milton, by Mr. Newman (60, p. 767), is a goodsample of the whiter kinds, not ill adapted for internalarchitectural decoration. Mr. Plows (34, p. 767) hassent a number of small articles manufactured of the samesubstance.

c. Sundry 1 For As in Freestone.

Purbeck stone and Purbeek marble, materials suscep-tible of polish, aud formerly much used in ecclesiasticalarchitecture, are exhibited in a sculptured form by onlyone person, Mr. Webber (Class XXX., 149, p. 830), whohas sent a design for a tomb made of this stone, placedon a slab of the marble. The material is well adapted tochurch purposes when new, and retaining its polish ; butthat being soon lost, the surface becomes discoloured,and loses nearly all its former beauty. It is not muchused at present, except for restorations.

The magnesian limestone, till lately seldom used inthe vicinity of London , is a stone of great beauty andvalue, and remarkable for its durability, at least in thoseparts of the country in which it is found. The bestquarries appear to be those near Bolsover, in Derbyshire ;and the stone has been selected from that neighbourhoodfor the construction of the external work of the Housesof Parliament . A specimen showing its qualities hasbeen forwarded by the contractor, Mr. Grissei.l, and isexhibited in Class I. (185, p. 139). Honourable Mentionis made of this work, as good of its kind, and well illus-trating the use of the stone.

A specimen of freestone is exhibited by Mr. T. King,of Morpeth (Class I., 136, p. 135), to show the quality ofthis material from Hartford Bridge, Northumberland , andthe nature of the work of which it is capable. This hasalso been considered worthy of Honourable Mention, asa well-executed illustration of the use of a valuable ma-terial.

A very interesting exemplification of the quality anddecorative use of Craigleith stone is exhibited by theproprietor, Mr. James Gowans, of Edinburgh (Class I.,132, p. 135). The stone is much used for building pur-poses in Edinburgh , and the Redhall Quarry, from whichthe larger blocks were taken, is of excellent quality.It belongs to the carboniferous system, and is generallyof lightish grey colour, fine grained, and almost whollycomposed of pure silex. It is rather costly at first, butvery durable, and may be worked perfectly for everyarchitectural purpose. It contains a small per centage ofbitumen.

The objects exhibited are two : one is a group of twochildren (the Orphans ), on a plinth of Binny stone, whichis remarkable for the large quantity of bitumen it con-tains ;* the other is a heroic statue of Sir WilliamWallace . Both are works of merit, and arc especiallyvaluable as demonstrating the capability of a stone hi-therto not used in England for the execution of suchworks; and the Jury have awarded a Prize Medal as amark of their appreciation of the exhibitor’s efforts tointroduce a material nearly indestructible, and for so ad-mirably illustrating its use.

In Class XXVII. there is a chimney-piece constructedof a stone obtained from Cornwall , and known as thepolyphant freestone. The material is hard, and is saidto admit of a good polish, although this and another spe-cimen exhibited are both varnished. The style of the, chimney-piece is peculiar. The exhibitor is Mr. Bren-dox (3, p. 764).

A Prize Medal has been adjudged to M. Desauges(France , 1184, p. 1234), for two objects constructed in

The works in Bath oolite are neither numerous nor * This bitumen is obtained in quantities so considerableimportant. The material itself, although much used, is j that it has been used in the manufacture of candles, ofnot capable of resisting the action of an English , and : which specimens are exhibited in Class I.