Page:History of Art in Primitive Greece - Mycenian Art Vol 2.djvu/419

 366 Pkimitive Greece; Mycenian Art. place of the ascending spire which characterizes that species of support we have seven superimposed loruses (Fig. 450). It can only be a base, and from the cup hollowed in the upper cylinder we divine its having supported an enormous vase, in the shape of a cylinder or inverted cone, proportional to the pedestal. There are other instances in Mycenian ceramics, but on a smaller scale, of very similar supports. Apart from vases of abnormal size, such as this base and the great pithoi or casks. Flo. 448. — Vnse in the shape of a uromaii's bust. almost all the vases are decorated with the brush in brown, red, and bluish white. The colours are generally dull. Vases exhibiting red designs had the surface overspread with a yellow grey slip which served to bring out the vivid tint of the form (PI. XX. r). The engobe or slip was obtained, as already stated, by dipping the vases in a yellow or brown bath, which coloured the surface inside and out. The prevailing patterns are very simple; annular bands running round the body, neck, or foot; squares arranged in con-