Greek vases

with his baskets slung over hls shoulders, and on the other side an odd figure
(in a Plirygian cap?) wliicli may perhaps represent a marketing slave. But it is
difticult to give definite names to sucli figures untii ali branches of Graeco-
Egyptian art and literalure bave been more closely studied. Tbey strike one as
a strange mixture of types derived from religions art, from daily life, and from
tbe comic stage.
Some of tbe alabastrons shown on pi. XXllI belong to tbis yellow ware,
n"' 39384, 96296 and possibly 39 385. The latter vase is the most distinclively
Egyptian of the wbole séries : contrast the calyx of blue lotus round ils base
witb tbe acanthus leaves on its neighbour n° 262 g/i, Tbe other alabastrons,
n°' 96986-26298, thougb closely allied to tbe yellow ware (cf. for instance
the conventionalised petals on n"" 26976 and 26286), bave originally been
coated with red glaze. There are also a few other pièces with a similar red
glaze, n°' 26279, 263i8, 26819. Thèse vases are not realistic imitations like
tbe yellow ones, but no doubt ail such fabrics of moulded ware bave a great
deal in common with métal -work. Tbe vase-moulders drew largely from the
same stock of models and détails as the goldsmiths and coppersmitbs. Take for
example the negro-bust, n" 26818, pi. XXV : in ail probability the model from
which it is derived (thougb perhaps not the actual model from which it bas
been mecbanically reproduced) was meant for a bronze rather than an earthen-
ware vase.
Another common class of moulded ware is shown on pis. XXIV and XXV,
n"" 26301-26317 and 39387-82391. Tbis fabric is characterised by ils lusfrous
black surface, and tbe clay itself is usually very dark'"'. Some of the pilgrim-
bottles witb rings of small studs, such as n° 26808, look like fore-runners of
the Menas-flasks; others are fantastically decorated with buman figures, e. g.
n" 268 1 A. Vases in the form of small statuettes are common, see tbe figure of Bes,
n° 26816, also the little head n° 82889, wbose wreath and ringlels recall cer-
tain mummy-masks of tbe first century. In respect of forms and ornamentation,
as well as in outward appearance, there is considérable différence between tbis
group and tbe preceding groups, but there are also certain intimate resem-
blances. Tbus the yellow vase n° 89888 and tbe black vase n° 89887 are
developments of the same scbeme; tbe festoons on 11° 89890 are verv similar
'" Coaipare a class of black stone vases discussed by v. Bissing, Steingepisse , p. XXII, who finds
in Ihem signs of ibe beginniug of the Coptic style. Something of the same sort is perceptible in
some of our vases also, especialiy n" 26808 with the rows of small impressed circles.