Ancient Khotan : vol.1 / Page 261 (Color Image)

0261	Ancient Khotan : vol.1

first place the detailed list of the objects, which has been prepared by Mr. Fred. H. Andrews,
and which will be found reproduced below with few additions and alterations, contains not only
an accurate and full description of every article, but also indications of such special points of
interest as may deserve further study by experts. In the second place, the acquisitions made
by me do not differ in general character from the large collection of Khotan antiques which
have accumulated through successive purchases on behalf of the Indian Government, and which
at the hands of Dr. Hoernle have undergone investigation as thorough as it is learned. For
all questions which bear upon the relationship between the art of these antiques and that of
India and Greece, and for many others raised by their technique, probable use, &c., I may
therefore refer to Dr. Hoernle's analysis in the second part of his 'Report on the British collection
of Central-Asian antiquities'¹. Even if sufficient leisure had been at my disposal for the
purpose, I could not have hoped to supplement his observations on essential points without
reference to collections and publications now far beyond my reach.

Fragments of ancient pottery, plain or decorated, form the commonest of the antiques Ancient
found at Yōtkan. But complete vessels of a size meant for actual use are rare, and hence the terra-cotta
almost intact specimens shown in Plate XLIII are of special interest. The small jug (Y. 0024), vessels.
perfect and of simple but remarkably graceful design, resembles a Greek Oenochoë. Another
small vessel (Y. 0028), complete but for the lip, is curious for the clever decoration of its
handle showing a monkey playing the Sitār—a motive amply represented among the terra-cotta
figurines of Plate XLVI. The fine jar, with almost spherical body (Y. 0027. a), is interesting for
the spiral fluting which decorates the body. The small bifrons vessel (Y. 0030), showing on
one side a male, on the other a female head, is remarkable for the close approach of its design
to that of Greek Bifrons vases; at the same time the peculiar features of the heads, the
treatment of the hair, &c., unmistakably reproduce a local type which is found represented also
in numerous terra-cotta miniatures. The portion of a coarse terra-cotta vessel (Y. 0022) shows
in its simple incised ornaments and mouldings motives common to many of the small pottery
fragments found in a more or less eroded condition on the Tatis near Gūma and around the
Khotan oasis. The garland-holding female figures seen on the neck of the large jar (Y. 0023)
were favourite decorative subjects with the Khotan artist. Specimens in terra-cotta recur on
Plate XLV (B. 001. d; Kh. 003. b) and were frequently found among the stucco wall-decorations
excavated at Dandān-Uiliq (Plate LVI). They are evidently meant for Gandharvis, and their
treatment imitates similar figures frequent in the Graeco-Buddhist reliefs of Gandhāra.

The moulded ornaments of the jars were invariably appliqué work, i. e., made separately Appliqué
and attached before firing. Plates XLIV and XLV show numerous pieces of this kind, most of pottery
them broken off. Grotesque heads, human or animal, are frequent among them. Particularly ornaments.
noteworthy is the satyr-like mask (Kh. 003. k) decorating a handle, for its clever naturalistic
treatment and distinctly classic look. There is a suggestion of Neptune-like features also in the
grotesque mask, Y. 0017 (Plate XLIII). Full figures or small groups in relief were similarly used
for decoration, as seen in Y. 0019, B. 001. c, Kh. 003. c, Kh. 003. m, and Mac. 001. The latter
piece, the richly ornamented neck of a jar, shows an unmistakably Indian motive in the two
halo-crowned figures seated on lotus-pedestals with an elephant to support them as a vāhana,
while the other appliqué decoration, with its two parrots kissing above a bunch of grapes, recalls
the use of these elements of decorative art in Gandhāra sculptures, the Ajanta frescoes and, in
similar combination, in Coptic embroideries.

National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books

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National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books

Citation Information

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National Institute of Informatics - Digital Silk Road Project
Digital Archive of Toyo Bunko Rare Books