There was no mistaking the pattern on the fragments when I examined them now.

The vase which had been broken was the vase which had stood in the place now vacant on the top of the book-case at the end nearest to the window.
Making this discovery, I took out the fragments, down to the smallest morsel of the shattered china, and examined them carefully one after another.
I was too ignorant of the subject to be able to estimate the value of the vase or the antiquity of the vase, or even to know whether it were of British or of foreign manufacture.

The ground was of a delicate cream-color.

The ornaments traced on this were wreaths of flowers and Cupids surrounding a medallion on either side of the vase.

Upon the space within one of the medallions was painted with exquisite delicacy a woman's head, representing a nymph or a goddess, or perhaps a portrait of some celebrated person--I was not learned enough to say which.
The other medallion inclosed the head of a man, also treated in the classical style.