Page:Walks in the Black Country and its green border-land.pdf/393

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and its Green Border-Land.
379

variously coloured marbles; one of which called the "Duke's Red," contributed by the Duke of Devonshire from his estate, is pre-eminently brilliant. The back side of the reredos presents a more softened aspect, but one full of exquisite features. It is a great diaper, or crinkled veil of creamy or unpolished alabaster, carved and inlaid with no less than 2,000 small pieces of marble. The central portion of this beautiful structure, exclusive of the wings, cost about £1,000, which was raised by subscription among ladies specially interested in the cathedral. If the entire edifice were a six-century plant, possessing within itself the faculty of germination, it could not have put forth a more natural and beautiful effloresence than this alabaster flower so petaled and polished. The carved woodwork of the throne, stalls, and sub-stalls, harmonizes well with all the other modern ornamentations, and presents specimens of the art which excite admiration. The pavements are equally artistic and full of symbolic history of the cathedral, and scripture pieces happily executed. The choir was paved originally with a singular material, or with a mosaic of cannel coal and alabaster. The statuary and monuments here have long been noted for their surpassing excellence, believe that Chantrey's "Sleeping Children" are regarded as his master-piece of sculpture. Thou-