国立情報学研究所 - ディジタル・シルクロード・プロジェクト
『東洋文庫所蔵』貴重書デジタルアーカイブ

N. xx. 01. Carved wood panel, portion of, representing a long-tailed ibex. Only upper portion remains, lower part apparently having been on a separate piece of wood placed below this. The pose is good, although the carving is very rude. The single, thick-based horn has double row of V-shaped cuts to represent rugosity. Mouth slightly open, showing two rows of teeth, and the tongue protrudes. Long tail curled over back in manner of heraldic lion rampant, and very thick at tip. The neck shows 3 V-shaped parallel creases. Carved part of panel slightly sunk, the two side edges, respectively 1¾" and 1⅜" wide, being higher. At each of two upper corners a square of about 1⅜" is cut out. Width of piece 17", height 5". Soft at edges; hard in centre; surface of back split and weather-worn.

N. xx. 02. Carved double bracket in wood, with socket in centre for round head of post. Portion of socket broken away. Both sides are equally well finished, also ends; evidence that it was exposed to view all round, and of course, underneath. Side elevation presents following appearance; architrave (i.e. the upper member of the piece) 22" long, 1⅜" wide, divided horizontally into (1) a flat bead ⅝"; (2) a carved band—hingri pattern, perhaps to represent overlapping leaves—1" wide, divided vertically in centre by ¼" fillet, carved vertically as though encircling wreath of leaves; (3) rectangular billet moulding slightly recessed, ¾" wide, each billet about 2¼" long, divided by ⅝" interval, containing prism shape. Below this, brought forward to level of (1), an abacus, flat on front to a depth of 1⅜", then chamfered at angle of about 30°, to a depth of about 1⅜". In profile the abacus widens by another chamfer springing ⅝" above lower chamfer. Width at widest part of abacus 7⅜"; above lower chamfer 6¼"; below lower chamfer 4".

On either side of abacus, and below architrave of bracket an oblong modillion, which seen in side elevation presents: —next to abacus, a cavetto (about 60°), upper end being ¾" below architrave; from this a vertical flat turning into half-round bead (depth 1"); then narrow vertical flat, and long horizontal chamfer to end. The end elevation presents return of architrave (same design as side); foreshortened modillion, and abacus. Width of upper members and abacus 5⅜", at modillion 5".

Plan of under surface: Centre portion, abacus in which socket 2⅝" diam. (evidently not a door socket as there is no sign of wear). Side portions, modillions (about 5¾" × 6¼"). On one, a 4-petalled 4-sepalled flower with round centre, petals arranged diagonally in square (narrow fillet border). On the other the square with fillet border is divided diagonally by two narrow fillets, and in each triangle thus formed is a half of flower similar to that in other.

These patterns occur very frequently in Gandhāra sculptures, and on the boat carvings on Indus and Jehlam. The carving is all shallow, and evidently rapidly done, with bold, long cuts of the chisel. The style of manipulation is precisely that of the architectural carving as practised at Bhēra, in the Punjab to-day, and there is a general resemblance in designs. Wood extremely well-preserved and seems quite sound. See Pl. LXIX.

N. xx. 03. Carved double bracket in wood, exactly similar to N. xx. 02 with exception of patterns on modillions. In this one has within square fillet border, a parallel and concentric oblong with fillet border, and measuring (outside) 2⅝" × 3¼". Within this the 4-petalled flower, and in the four corners rudely cut ¼ flowers. The other has, within a fillet border, a rudely cut and very conventional representation of a bird (?) with outspread wings. At two inner corners ¼ flowers. Socket is complete, but split by shrinkage. Wood very soft all over surface, and in places broken away. Upper surface perished. Length 24", width 5⅝", height 5⅝".

N. xx. 04. Wooden boot-last (?). Roughly made. Broken slightly at ankle. Much scored by knife-cuts on sole, as though frequently used as a block for cutting leather. On the upper surface are obvious traces of pink paint. 10" × 3⅝" (at toes), 2" (near heel). Thickness 2¼" to 1⅜". See Pl. LXXIII.

N. xx. 05. Wooden implement, somewhat resembling a curry comb, used in weaving to drive together the weft picks. It is in the shape of a wedge, the short blunt teeth being at the thin edge, and the thick edge being rounded into a form to fit comfortably into the palm of the hand, and furnished with a projecting knob to give firmness to the stroke in using. An implement of similar form (but in this case possibly a brush for cleansing or sizing the threads) is seen in the hand of a figure in the painted panel D. x. 4 (Pl. LXIII). 7¼" × 4" × 1⅜". See Pl. LXXIII.

DOCUMENTS FOUND IN N. x.

N. xxi. 1. Rectang. cov.-tablet, broken at top corners and perished at lower edges. Obv. Seal cav. ¾" sq. 2 ll. Khar. transversely at L. p. edge. Rev. 8 ll. Khar., very cursive, black; parts missing where broken, parts deleted. 5" × 3¾". Fairly well-preserved.

N. xxi. 2 + 3. Double rectang. tablet, complete. Cov.- tablet. Seal cav. 1⅛" × 1⅛". Part of seal and string remaining. Obv. 3 ll. Khar. transversely at L. p. edge. Rev. 5 ll. Khar., cursive, rather coarse. Partially deleted by encrusted sand.

Under-tablet. Thickness of raised part 3⁄4". Obv. 7 ll. Khar., cursive, rather coarse. Partially deleted by sand. Rev. blank. 8⅝" × 3⅝". Well-preserved.

N. xxi.