16 



USE OF GOLD AND OTHER METALS 



I present two additional examples of the Imman figure from the col- 

 lection of Mr. Stearns. One of tbein, Fig. 5, is an interesting little 

 statuette in dark copper that still retains traces of the former gilding of 

 yellow gold. The crown is flat and is surrounded by a fillet of twisted 

 wire. Tlie face is grotesque, the nose being bulbous, the mouth large, 

 and the lii)s protruding. The hands are represented as grasping cords 

 of wire which connect the waist with the crown of the figure and seem 

 to be intended for the bodies of seri)ents, the heads of which project 

 from the sides of the head dress. Similai* serpents project from the 

 ankles. The feet are flattened out as if intended to be set in a crevice. 



Fig. 5. Grotesque human figme in ut iih pui 



101 1><-1 1' '111 'I'.V coated with yellow gold. 



The extremities — excepting the feet — the costume, and the ornaments 

 are all formed of wire. The various parts of the figure have been 

 modeled separately and set together whilst the material was in a i)lastic 

 or semi-plastic condition. This is clearly indicated by the sinking of 

 one part into another at the points of contact. 





t^\* 



Fk:. C. Grotesque human ligurc, In nearly pure gold. 



An excellent example of the more elaborate figures is shown in Fig. 

 6. It is of reddish gold, slightly alloyed, no doubt with copper, and 



