HOLMES. ] 



ORNAMENTATION OF BOWLS 



37 7 



It will probably be safe to assume that some form of shallow vessel — 

 a dish, cup, or bowl, was the first artificial form produced. Such a ves- 

 sel would be most easily fashioned in clay and may have been suggested 

 by accident, or by uatural or artificial vessels. 



Whatever the origin or whichever the method of construction, the 

 difficulties encountered would at first prevent the manufacture of other 

 than the simplest forms. 



Ornament. — The ornamentation of bowls was accomplished in a 

 variety of ways. These have been already described in a general way, 

 under the head of ornament. Kim modifications constitute an im- 

 portant feature. The margin or lip may be square, oblique, round, or 

 grooved, as indicated in Fig. 363 a, b, c, and d. The scallop may be 

 employed as in eand/, and relief ornament may be added, such as fil- 

 lets and nodes, aud various horizontal projections, as shown in the 



b c d 



Fig. 363. — Modification of rirus. 



second line, Fig. 303, to say nothing of incised lines and indentations, 

 which are the heritage of wicker-work. 



Not satisfied with these simple ideas of decoration, the fancy of the 

 potter led him to add embellishments of most varied aud often of ex- 

 traordinary character. The nodes aud ridges have been enlarged aud 

 prolonged, and fashioned into a thousand natural aud fanciful forms. 

 Shells, fish, birds, beasts, human and impossible creatures have been 

 utilized in a multitude of ways. Many illustrations of these are given 

 on subsequent pages. 



The body of the bowl is somewhat less profusely ornamented than the 

 rim. The interior, as well as the exterior, has received painted, relieved, 

 and intaglio designs. In the paiuted ones the favorite idea for the in- 

 terior is a series of volutes, in broad lines, radiating from the center of 

 the basin. Groups of festooned lines, either painted or engraved, aud 

 arranged to give the effect of imbricate scales, form also a favorite mo- 

 tive. The exterior surface of the incurved rims of globular vessels 

 offers a tempting surface to the artist and is often tastefully decorated 

 in all the styles. 



