VASES OF THE TRIPOD GROUP. 



99 



pieces and serve to give a partial idea of tlie range of form, size, and 

 decoration. 



I prcsi'iit. Ilrst. tlir.'i' vases of railuT iM-ciMitric shapes, the hasins of 

 whicli ,nv shallow ail. I in Iw.i <-asrs arc Hat l".ttnmed. The handles 

 are of unusual shapes, cdnsistiiij; ni' luciilications of the lip, as .seen 

 in the illustrations (Figs. 140-1-iv!). Life elements are present in all 



Tripod vases with shallow basins and eccentric handles— J. 



cases in connection with the handles and legs where these are pre- 

 served, bnt they are vei'v Hieageraml so alilire\'iate(l as tuLe identiiied 

 with difficulty." Incised maikin-sat the cmls ..f tli.' liainllcs icprcsent 

 hands or feet and eyes are allixed to the upper part of the legs. The 

 ware is identical with that of the ijreceding group. 



A representative specimen of the fish legged vessels is presented in 

 Fig. 14.3. It is one of the most graceful forms in the series and is 

 neatly finished and embellished, but is thoroughly blackened with 

 soot. The handles are formed of twisted fillets or ropes of clay and 

 a narrow, incised, rope-like band encircles the lower part of the neck. 

 Set upon the neck and alternating with the handles are two scrolls 

 neatly formed of small round ropes of clay. The fishes forming the 

 legs are very simply treated. The mouth at the apex is formed by 

 laying on an oblong loop of clay and the eyes are represented by two 

 round pellets set into the soft clay of the head and indented with a 

 slit that gives to them the exact effect of screwheads. A pair of 

 fins — small incised or channeled cones — is placed at the sides of the 

 head and another at the sides of the body. The cavity contains a 

 single ball of clay and the slit is long and wide. 



In other examples the fish form is much more elaboi'ately modeled. 



