fragment

Ett fragment med mascaron, möjligen ett lejon som håller om vad som ser ut som en pip på en liten kanna./Is

"Spouts.

All Yotkan collection being of the character of purchased, detached finds, it follows as a natura consequence that as regards many of the preserved decorative details we are ignorant of their employment as well as of the type of vessel to which they once belonged. No change can be expected in this state of things until excavations have been carried out under scientific direction.
In the majority of the works that have been published on this locality references are found of animal heads, which are hollow so as to form tubes through which it is possible to pour liquids. There can be no doubt that these objects served as spouts, but as to the shape, etc., of the respective clay vessels we are only able to advance theories. Even among this group of objects different types are distinguishable. The most common of these is the head of some animal or other, with elongated jaws ­ often with a tube inserted ­ set on a neck, cf. Fig. 16 b (1903.11.315). The spout as a whole is, as usual, moulded in two halves, but so as to leave a tubular cavity running along the middle. Fig. 16 c. shows an interesting example of this type of object, as here is preserved not only the whole of the spout but also a fragment of the pierced wall of the vessel, which proves incontestably that the object served some practical purpose. The head is provided with a large open mouth with formidable fangs, as well as the horn-like, offset-built projection mentioned in connection with the griffins already described. Fig. 16 b belongs to the same type, which is also represented in Grenard's work. (pl. VII).
The bird´s head, Pl. XIV,1 (1903.11.316) probably also belongs to this class of objects as the beak forms a tube set at right angles to the hollow neck. Another variant is found in the he-goat's (?) head. Fig. 16 a (1903.11.314), which is open at the top as well. (Cf. Hoernle 1902, pl. XIII, 5. Cf. Crosby, p. 140.) The idea of this arrangement is difficult to explain, but it may not be altogether inconceivable that this spout once belonged to some kind of trick-jug. Vessels of that class are known to have existed in ancient times in China.¿

¿Fig. 17 b. (1903.11.243) illustrates a small and gently curving spout tapering towards its mouth, which might have belonged to a tea-pot of ordinary, modern Chinese type. At its lower end is a small appliqué lion mask. (Cf. Stein 1928, vol III, pl. I (Yo. 017).¿ Montell 1936, pp 175 ff./Is