DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.8577#0165
FLORAL ORNAMENTS 145
The mainland ornaments are radically different and, though they bear only
the remotest resemblance to natural forms, they have an organic quality
which at once places them in another category. They are always constructed
on a clear and easily intelligible principle, which insists that the primary,
floral elements shall be sharply distinguished from the secondary, connecting
links, so that the flowers and stems of which the pattern is composed, however
severely stylized, retain something of the reality of their natural prototypes.
I said that this was always true of Corinthian patterns: that is not absolutely
accurate, for in the late period, perhaps under Ionian influence, there is a
distinct tendency to weaken the design for the sake of decorative effect.1
In the vast majority of cases the elements of the Corinthian patterns are
lotus-flowers andpalmettes. The lotus-flowers are of two main forms. By far
the commonest is that shown, for example, in fig. 52, a-b—the flower filled
with palmette petals, enclosed by two larger petals at either end, and set in an
angular calyx. This form is directly derived from the Protocorinthian period,
and is used till the middle of the sixth century. The other form (cf. fig. 52 e)
in which the lotus has a rounded calyx, and one large central bud enclosed
at either side, is unknown before the sixth century. It is an Ionian form,
which first appears on the aryballoi nos. 807 and 810, and on the kotylai of
the Samos group (cf. pi. 33, 7-8). Henceforward this type becomes exceed-
ingly common, especially in the forms shown in figs. 55, h-k; 56, &c. With
one exception (no. 913) the type fig. 52, a-d, never has three petals on
Corinthian, as it has on some Protocorinthian and most Attic vases. Inter-
mediate forms (figs. 52, c; 55, G, &c.) are many and very varied. On the
distinction between mainland and Ionian patterns see Johansen p. 115 ff.
The floral ornaments on Corinthian vases have, as we shall see, an added
interest from the similarity which they show to the decoration of the archi-
tectural revetments which were made at Corinth (see ch. xvii).
A. Substantive ornaments.
Double lotus. Fig. 52 (cf. also pi. 22,1,7). This is an invention of the early
Corinthian period, which is not found on Protocorinthian or Transitional
vases. It is very often used as the central member of a heraldic group (cf. pi.
22,1,7 and the catalogue of early alabastra). The compact form, fig. 52, a-b, is
typical of the early period, the spreading form, fig. 52, c, of the sixth century.2
Late versions, from red-ground vases, are seen in fig. 52, e, and on no. 1435:
the former type has close parallels in contemporary Attic and Chalcidian
vase-painting.3 The earlier forms seem to be peculiar to Corinth.4 A single
lotus as a filling ornament is shown in pi. 16, 14.
1 Cf. infra, fig. 55, J and k. 3 Cf. C.V.a. Louvre iii, Hd pi. 1, 11; Rumpf pi.
2 Cf. the intermediate type shown in fig. 52,0 18, pi. 60, &c.
(middle Corinthian). The type shown in fig. 52,0, 4 C.V.a. loc. cit. pi. 9, 4 bears some resemblance,
occurs on the pyxis no. 889, and the cup no. 993. but is not identical.
3575 u
The mainland ornaments are radically different and, though they bear only
the remotest resemblance to natural forms, they have an organic quality
which at once places them in another category. They are always constructed
on a clear and easily intelligible principle, which insists that the primary,
floral elements shall be sharply distinguished from the secondary, connecting
links, so that the flowers and stems of which the pattern is composed, however
severely stylized, retain something of the reality of their natural prototypes.
I said that this was always true of Corinthian patterns: that is not absolutely
accurate, for in the late period, perhaps under Ionian influence, there is a
distinct tendency to weaken the design for the sake of decorative effect.1
In the vast majority of cases the elements of the Corinthian patterns are
lotus-flowers andpalmettes. The lotus-flowers are of two main forms. By far
the commonest is that shown, for example, in fig. 52, a-b—the flower filled
with palmette petals, enclosed by two larger petals at either end, and set in an
angular calyx. This form is directly derived from the Protocorinthian period,
and is used till the middle of the sixth century. The other form (cf. fig. 52 e)
in which the lotus has a rounded calyx, and one large central bud enclosed
at either side, is unknown before the sixth century. It is an Ionian form,
which first appears on the aryballoi nos. 807 and 810, and on the kotylai of
the Samos group (cf. pi. 33, 7-8). Henceforward this type becomes exceed-
ingly common, especially in the forms shown in figs. 55, h-k; 56, &c. With
one exception (no. 913) the type fig. 52, a-d, never has three petals on
Corinthian, as it has on some Protocorinthian and most Attic vases. Inter-
mediate forms (figs. 52, c; 55, G, &c.) are many and very varied. On the
distinction between mainland and Ionian patterns see Johansen p. 115 ff.
The floral ornaments on Corinthian vases have, as we shall see, an added
interest from the similarity which they show to the decoration of the archi-
tectural revetments which were made at Corinth (see ch. xvii).
A. Substantive ornaments.
Double lotus. Fig. 52 (cf. also pi. 22,1,7). This is an invention of the early
Corinthian period, which is not found on Protocorinthian or Transitional
vases. It is very often used as the central member of a heraldic group (cf. pi.
22,1,7 and the catalogue of early alabastra). The compact form, fig. 52, a-b, is
typical of the early period, the spreading form, fig. 52, c, of the sixth century.2
Late versions, from red-ground vases, are seen in fig. 52, e, and on no. 1435:
the former type has close parallels in contemporary Attic and Chalcidian
vase-painting.3 The earlier forms seem to be peculiar to Corinth.4 A single
lotus as a filling ornament is shown in pi. 16, 14.
1 Cf. infra, fig. 55, J and k. 3 Cf. C.V.a. Louvre iii, Hd pi. 1, 11; Rumpf pi.
2 Cf. the intermediate type shown in fig. 52,0 18, pi. 60, &c.
(middle Corinthian). The type shown in fig. 52,0, 4 C.V.a. loc. cit. pi. 9, 4 bears some resemblance,
occurs on the pyxis no. 889, and the cup no. 993. but is not identical.
3575 u