DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.8577#0170
15o FLORAL ORNAMENTS
the fondness for the 'budding lotus' (in fig. 55, h, and henceforward), and the
peculiar, inorganic elaborations which we see in fig. 55, j-k: in the former
reduplication of the curving lines in the upper part is distinctly reminiscent
of Ionian practice; in the latter we have an even more definitely Ionian
trait—the filling of the inner part of the lower spirals with white, a purely
decorative procedure which is paralleled in the Ionian ornament fig. 51, b.1
The general character recalls the lotuses on the Laconian( ?) mirror in Munich
Sieveking, Ant. Metallgerate pi. 19. Simple lotus-and-palmette ornaments
which approximate more or less closely to Corinthian types are not un-
common outside Corinth: they are the regular handle motive of the comast
cups (p. 194), and occur fairly often in other Attic black-figured vases;2 they
are likewise found in Boeotia,3 and occasionally in Eastern Greece,4 but the
Protocorinthian and early Corinthian examples leave little room for doubt
that the pattern was originally Corinthian. This is of
some interest, for it was a favourite motive in Corin-
thian architectural decoration (cf. infra p. 260).
Lotus and three palmettes. The foregoing were all
composed of two principal elements—a lotus below
and a palmette above. A natural development of this
type of complex was to add palmettes at either side, as
is done in fig. 56.5
Two lotuses and two palmettes. This is a commoner pattern than the last,
and has a longer history. Fig. 57, a, shows an early Corinthian example, with
characteristically small palmettes, and of compact construction (cf. also pi.
22,5). Fig. 140 bis, is a type found on aryballoi of the middle period.6 Fig. 57,
b-c, are types used on aryballoi of the lion group, and are certainly not later
than the early sixth century; fig. 57, d, is from a later pyxis. Fig. 57, e,
gives a late Corinthian form from a red-ground crater (no. 1461).
Substantive ornaments on Corinthian vases never consist of several vertical
members, as they do frequently on Attic and Chalcidian vases (Francois Vase;
C.V.A. Brit. Mus. iii, He pi. 10, 1 b; Buschor2 p. 97 fig. 70).
Palmette ornaments. Ornaments composed of palmettes and volutes are
very common on Protocorinthian vases; fig. 58, a-b, shows two characteristic
examples.7 It will be seen that the palmettes are always small and compact;
in the first there is a close analogy, in construction and in the rendering
Fig. 56. Cf. no. 1392.
1 The same on the amphora no. 1434.
2 Berlin 1659 (see P- ^3) 5 Graf i, P- 58, no. 539;
Thiersch p. 71, no. 4; lekanis in Palermo; &c.
3 Cf. C.C. 601 pi. 24, a slightly more complex
form.
4 Antefixes from Miletus and Didyma (R.M. 1915,
36 fig. 20 and p. 37,1: cf. fig. 22). Corinthian style,
probably under Corinthian influence.
5 Cf. also nos. 1391, 3, 4 and the crater no. 1459
where the lateral palmettes are replaced by small
buds. Attic examples, Graf, i, p. 58, no. 539 ;
J.h.S. 1911, 4, fig. 3.
6 Cf. nos. 833, 856.
7 From the early ovoid aryballos, Johansen pi. 23,
2 (cf. fig. 58), and from the owl vase, pi. 44, 4.
the fondness for the 'budding lotus' (in fig. 55, h, and henceforward), and the
peculiar, inorganic elaborations which we see in fig. 55, j-k: in the former
reduplication of the curving lines in the upper part is distinctly reminiscent
of Ionian practice; in the latter we have an even more definitely Ionian
trait—the filling of the inner part of the lower spirals with white, a purely
decorative procedure which is paralleled in the Ionian ornament fig. 51, b.1
The general character recalls the lotuses on the Laconian( ?) mirror in Munich
Sieveking, Ant. Metallgerate pi. 19. Simple lotus-and-palmette ornaments
which approximate more or less closely to Corinthian types are not un-
common outside Corinth: they are the regular handle motive of the comast
cups (p. 194), and occur fairly often in other Attic black-figured vases;2 they
are likewise found in Boeotia,3 and occasionally in Eastern Greece,4 but the
Protocorinthian and early Corinthian examples leave little room for doubt
that the pattern was originally Corinthian. This is of
some interest, for it was a favourite motive in Corin-
thian architectural decoration (cf. infra p. 260).
Lotus and three palmettes. The foregoing were all
composed of two principal elements—a lotus below
and a palmette above. A natural development of this
type of complex was to add palmettes at either side, as
is done in fig. 56.5
Two lotuses and two palmettes. This is a commoner pattern than the last,
and has a longer history. Fig. 57, a, shows an early Corinthian example, with
characteristically small palmettes, and of compact construction (cf. also pi.
22,5). Fig. 140 bis, is a type found on aryballoi of the middle period.6 Fig. 57,
b-c, are types used on aryballoi of the lion group, and are certainly not later
than the early sixth century; fig. 57, d, is from a later pyxis. Fig. 57, e,
gives a late Corinthian form from a red-ground crater (no. 1461).
Substantive ornaments on Corinthian vases never consist of several vertical
members, as they do frequently on Attic and Chalcidian vases (Francois Vase;
C.V.A. Brit. Mus. iii, He pi. 10, 1 b; Buschor2 p. 97 fig. 70).
Palmette ornaments. Ornaments composed of palmettes and volutes are
very common on Protocorinthian vases; fig. 58, a-b, shows two characteristic
examples.7 It will be seen that the palmettes are always small and compact;
in the first there is a close analogy, in construction and in the rendering
Fig. 56. Cf. no. 1392.
1 The same on the amphora no. 1434.
2 Berlin 1659 (see P- ^3) 5 Graf i, P- 58, no. 539;
Thiersch p. 71, no. 4; lekanis in Palermo; &c.
3 Cf. C.C. 601 pi. 24, a slightly more complex
form.
4 Antefixes from Miletus and Didyma (R.M. 1915,
36 fig. 20 and p. 37,1: cf. fig. 22). Corinthian style,
probably under Corinthian influence.
5 Cf. also nos. 1391, 3, 4 and the crater no. 1459
where the lateral palmettes are replaced by small
buds. Attic examples, Graf, i, p. 58, no. 539 ;
J.h.S. 1911, 4, fig. 3.
6 Cf. nos. 833, 856.
7 From the early ovoid aryballos, Johansen pi. 23,
2 (cf. fig. 58), and from the owl vase, pi. 44, 4.