pendant

"Handle of large vessel. Griffon shape with incised decoration. Made in two halves, in moulds, joined before firing. Montell 1936, Pl. IX, 4. "Pl IV,4 reproduces a very fine example from amongst the Hedin collections. It has belonged to a very large vessel and is strongly modelled. On a maned neck rests an eagle´s head, from the crown of which rises a projection built up in offsets like the horn of a unicorn. The wings are short, folded on the back and issuing from a disc with incised ornamentation at each shoulder. A short tail bends upwards along the back. The loins are provided with voluted ornaments of which the rays terminate in small circles. The support to the hind-legs is unfortunately broken off, but with the aid of other finds its lengths can be determined approximately. cf. Fig. 6 (page 162). At any rate the larger figures of this type have on their bodies scattered short incised lines, possibly meant to indicate feathers. Fragments of this type of handles occur, as already mentioned, in large numbers and in varying dimensions. (Kiseritskij, fig. 12-13, Grenard, pl. VII Hoernle, 1902, pl. VIII. Stein 1907, pl XLV, Stein 1928, vol. III, pl. III. Tallgren 1919, figs 14-15). They are made in two halves, pressed in moulds and put together, and then affixed to the vessel. That this decorative creation of fancy is connected with similar objects elsewhere may be regarded as self-evident. The fabled fauna of the Orient has hardly been fuly explored as yet, as fresh material is constantly turning up. As early as in ancient Susa the griffin occurred fully developed, and Contenau published an example which he dates at about 3000 B.C. (Contenau, vol I, figs. 295.) According to the opinion expressed by Strzygowski, the origin of the idea may be traced back to the nomad peoples of Central Asia (Strzygowski, p. 296)... The fabled animals surrounding the bodhitree at the eastern gate in Sanchi include griffins, the heads of which strogly recall the Yotkan clay-vessel handles. (Grünwede 1920, fig 19). On their foreheads the former also wear a crest, or tuft, which may well be supplosed to have developed into the hornlike projection on the foreheads of the latter. Griffins akin to these, executed in relief, are depicted from Bamiyan (Hackin 1933, pl. LXXVIII). The evolution of the Garuda type is no doubt connected with the griffin motif from the remotest antiquity. (Montell 1936, pp 162-163)/Is.