The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700

[ Previous ][ Next ]

David George Hogarth (1862 - 1927)

Archaeologist and traveler Other biography: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_George_Hogarth Authority - modern
 References in Documents:
Peter Mundy's description of the Tradescants' Ark in his travel diary (1634) [4] In a catalogue of the Tradescant collection, published in 1656, these objects are thus described: "Mechanick artificiall Works in Carvings . . . A Cherry-stone, upon on side S. George and the Dragon, perfectly cut: and on the other side 88 Emperours faces . . . Variety of Rarities. Severall sorts of Magnifying glasses: Triangular, Prismes, Cynlinders." Under "Medalls" are enumerated Gold (5), Silver (55), Copper and Lead (52). Musæum Tradescantium; or A Collection of Rarities Preserved at South Lambeth neer London. By J. T. [John Tradescant junior], London, 1656. It is doubtful whether the carved cherry-stone seen by Mundy at Lambeth was sent to Oxford with the rest of the "rarities" handed over to Elias Ashmole by Tradescant’s widow. It is not in existence now, but among the Tradescant specimens at the Ashmolean Museum are six plum or "apricock" stones carved in the same manner with minute figures. A drawing of the cherry-stone is, however, preserved. Mr D. G. Hogarth, Keeper of the Ashmolean Museum, to whom I am indebted for the above information, tells me that under a pencil drawing of the stone in an Ashmole MS at the Bodleian Library (1131-183) is a note in 17th century handwriting (? Ashmole’s) as follows: "The draught of a cherry-stone whereon St George on ye one side and divers heads on the other by Capt. Burgh and given by him to Mr John Tradescant who preserved it amongst the rarities." The drawing shows the two faces of the stone enlarged some 3 diameters, with a sketch of the stone natural size beside. About 80 heads are arranged concentrically on one side. Mr Hogarth is of opinion that the note under the drawing leaves the question open as to whether the stone itself was ever in Tradescant’s hands or only Captain Burgh’s drawing of it. But, judging from Mundy's usual accuracy of statement, I feel convinced that the cherry-stone was among the "rarities" that he actually saw. The particular magnifying glass described by Mundy cannot be traced in the Ashmolean Museum.