120 



ANCIENT AK'I 



THE FKOVINCE OF CHIRiyi'I. 



seen in Fig. l?:!. The same ic 

 handles, siicli a conniioii fcati 

 reached from the jjeriphery t( 



s];)ring from the use of two 

 ware. The lateral spaces 

 of tlie neck and were most 



Theoretical origin ot tbe arched panels. 



readily and naturally separated from the plastic features by lines ex- 

 tending across the shoulder tangent to the neck and forming arches 

 (Fig. 174). In time the jilastic features, being difficult to manage, 

 would gradually decrease in boldness of modeling and finally disap- 

 pear, leaving a space upon which the life form could be symbolized 

 in color (Fig 17.")) Now it happens that in this collection we have 

 a series of e\ami)les illusti.iting all stages of this thaiige, the first, 

 the middle, and tin liii.il ^tt ]i^ beniti sliown m tin- above figures. 



Fig. 176. Va.se decorated with conventional figures of alligators— i. 



In multiplying these vessels the original forms and associations of 

 decorative features are necessarily to some extent lost sight of ; the 

 panels change in shape, number, and relationships; and devices orig- 

 inally appropriate to particular spaces are employed indiscriminately. 

 so that the uninitiated see nothing but confusion. All devices are 

 delineations of or have more or less definite reference to the creature 

 or spirit associated with the vessel. 



