ANCIENT POTTERY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 204, 14 September 1937, Page 14

ANCIENT POTTERY

Fascinating Exhibits At H.B. Art Gallery INTERESTING LAMPS Oue of the most fascinating exhibits yet shown in the Hawke's Bay Art Gallery and Museum is a collection of aneient pottery from excavations on the island of Mitylene, the Lesbos of antiquity, a Turkish island in the Aegean Bea. These articles are undoubtedly of the Graeco-Roman period and date round about the begiiining of the Christian era. They are mostly of terra cotta or baked clay, and would be moulded by the fingers on a primitive potter's wheel, handles ("Ansa), and in the case of the lamps the 'Nasus" or wiok supports were made separately and joined before baking. In the case of the incense-burner , there is a very clever interloeking arrangement between the handle and the cover It is the old lamps, however, which appeal to the imagination most. This form of lamp c}ates back to the dawn of history. It was $he common form in domestic use during the GraecoKoman period as early as the 4th century B.G. Thought its metlfod of decorution developed considerably and it became more elaborate in form, the general principle of the lamp searcely altered until after the Renaissance. It consisted of a bowl for the oil, the wick nozzle "Nasus," and handle "Ama," and the "Discus" or top which was pierced with a filling hole. Decoration was usually confined to the top and the handle. They were usually pJaced on stands, in nich.es, or carried in the hand. During the Christian era the discus sometimes bore Christian emblems. one of the collection at the museum has a, representation of tha Pascal Lamb. During the period of Eoman domiuance the lamps were allnost exclusively made in Rome and exported to the provinces. At this time they become highly deeorated with aneient figures and mythological scenes on the discus or top. Several of the lamps here shown still bear the black marks of the pale and smoky flame. The lamp has always had a strong religious significance, and in parts of the Near East and in Egypt similar ones are still carried in marriage, burial or other eeremonial processions. The lamps referred to in the parable of the Eoolish Virgins ,the aLmp of Aladdin, and in many of the Arabian Nights stories, were all of this pattern. Of the museum collection one was presented by Lady McLean, the rest bslng part of the Greaeen Black collection.