plaque; 飾板(Chinese) BM-MAS.64

Period:Unknown Production date:1stC-4thC (Whitfield 1985)
Materials:fired clay, 陶器 (Chinese),
Technique:mould-made, incised, 模製 (Chinese), 雕刻 (Chinese),
Subjects:mammal 哺乳動物 (Chinese)
Dimensions:Height: 5.40 centimetres Width: 5.80 centimetres

Description:
Round clay plaque depicting a lion’s face in high relief. The animal is shown in full frontal view with its mouth opened. The remains of the mane which once surrounded the head can still be seen. The fact that the plaque is flat on the reverse side suggests that it was applied to another object, probably a vessel.
IMG


Comments:EnglishFrom Whitfield 1985:Besides the small independent figurines, many of the Yotkan terracottas are moulded masks that were applied to the surface of large vessels (see Pl. 79). Few of the latter have survived intact, for their appliqué decorations easily became detached or broke away with part of the vessel wall. Some are clearly animal in character, others demonic or human (see also Fig. 101 and Pl. 78). Despite their small size, they offered ample opportunity for dramatic effect by the use of exaggerated features. The join to the smooth surface of the vessel was masked by elements, such as the small rings or the incised lines seen here, which frame the faces even when they have fallen off. ChineseFrom Whitfield 1985:除獨立的小像外，約特幹出土的陶製品大多是用模子製作的面具，是粘貼在大型容器的表面上的（見圖79）。像這種粘貼裝飾的大型容器完整保留下來的極少，因爲粘貼的裝飾極易脫落，與器壁一同破損的情況也較多。其粘貼的裝飾大多都是特徵鮮明的動物，也有惡魔，或人物（見Fig. 101以及圖78）。這些面具儘管體形小，但大多通過誇張的表現，産生出豐富的戲劇性效果。把它們粘貼在平滑的器面時，使用小環或刻出邊來安裝，它們從器面上脫落後仍留在面具上。