-
Notifications
You must be signed in to change notification settings - Fork 1
/
Copy pathrhytons.html
1007 lines (894 loc) · 69.5 KB
/
rhytons.html
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
258
259
260
261
262
263
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327
328
329
330
331
332
333
334
335
336
337
338
339
340
341
342
343
344
345
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435
436
437
438
439
440
441
442
443
444
445
446
447
448
449
450
451
452
453
454
455
456
457
458
459
460
461
462
463
464
465
466
467
468
469
470
471
472
473
474
475
476
477
478
479
480
481
482
483
484
485
486
487
488
489
490
491
492
493
494
495
496
497
498
499
500
501
502
503
504
505
506
507
508
509
510
511
512
513
514
515
516
517
518
519
520
521
522
523
524
525
526
527
528
529
530
531
532
533
534
535
536
537
538
539
540
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580
581
582
583
584
585
586
587
588
589
590
591
592
593
594
595
596
597
598
599
600
601
602
603
604
605
606
607
608
609
610
611
612
613
614
615
616
617
618
619
620
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635
636
637
638
639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646
647
648
649
650
651
652
653
654
655
656
657
658
659
660
661
662
663
664
665
666
667
668
669
670
671
672
673
674
675
676
677
678
679
680
681
682
683
684
685
686
687
688
689
690
691
692
693
694
695
696
697
698
699
700
701
702
703
704
705
706
707
708
709
710
711
712
713
714
715
716
717
718
719
720
721
722
723
724
725
726
727
728
729
730
731
732
733
734
735
736
737
738
739
740
741
742
743
744
745
746
747
748
749
750
751
752
753
754
755
756
757
758
759
760
761
762
763
764
765
766
767
768
769
770
771
772
773
774
775
776
777
778
779
780
781
782
783
784
785
786
787
788
789
790
791
792
793
794
795
796
797
798
799
800
801
802
803
804
805
806
807
808
809
810
811
812
813
814
815
816
817
818
819
820
821
822
823
824
825
826
827
828
829
830
831
832
833
834
835
836
837
838
839
840
841
842
843
844
845
846
847
848
849
850
851
852
853
854
855
856
857
858
859
860
861
862
863
864
865
866
867
868
869
870
871
872
873
874
875
876
877
878
879
880
881
882
883
884
885
886
887
888
889
890
891
892
893
894
895
896
897
898
899
900
901
902
903
904
905
906
907
908
909
910
911
912
913
914
915
916
917
918
919
920
921
922
923
924
925
926
927
928
929
930
931
932
933
934
935
936
937
938
939
940
941
942
943
944
945
946
947
948
949
950
951
952
953
954
955
956
957
958
959
960
961
962
963
964
965
966
967
968
969
970
971
972
973
974
975
976
977
978
979
980
981
982
983
984
985
986
987
988
989
990
991
992
993
994
995
996
997
998
999
1000
r!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<meta name="robots" content="index,follow">
<meta name="description" content="Cows and Bulls are featured on a variety of vessels used in rituals">
<meta name="keywords" content="rhyton, nandi, torito pucara, toro iberico, cuenca bull, bull rhyton, bull drinking horn, cow decanter, bull decanter ">
<title>Rhytons - Craig's Cow Creamers</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="css1.css">
</head>
<body>
<table class="maintable">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td id="headerlinks">
<img class="titleimage" src="cooltext8a.gif" alt="text image reads Craig's Cow creamers" width="574" height="106">
<ul id="menu">
<li><a href="index.html">Home</a></li>
<li><a href="mystory.html">My Story</a> </li>
<li><a href="history.html">History</a> </li>
<li> <a href="care_and_feeding.html">Care and Feeding</a></li>
<li><a href="mailto:[email protected]">Email Craig</a></li>
</ul>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td width="756" align="right" valign="top">
<div align="left" id="navcontainer">
<ul id="navlist">
<li class="first"><a class="unselected" href="advertising.html">Advertising </a></li>
<li class="middle"><a class="unselected" href="bennington.html">Bennington </a></li>
<li class="middle"><a class="unselected" href="christmas.html">Christmas </a></li>
<li class="middle"><a class="unselected" href="delft.html">Delft </a></li>
<li class="middle"><a class="unselected" href="favbrands.html">Favorite Brands </a></li>
<li class="middle"><a class="unselected" href="faience.html">Faience </a></li>
<li class="middle"><a class="unselected" href="heads.html">Heads </a></li>
<li class="middle"><a class="unselected" href="jackfield.html">Jackfield </a></li>
<li class="middle"><a class="unselected" href="miniature.html">Miniature </a></li>
<li class="middle"><a class="unselected" href="modern_variation.html">Modern Variations </a></li>
<li class="middle"><a class="unselected" href="pitchers.html">Pitchers </a></li>
<li class="middle"><a class="unselected" href="places.html">Places </a></li>
<li class="middle"><a class="selected" href="rhytons.html">Rhytons </a></li>
<li class="middle"><a class="unselected" href="silver.html">Silver </a></li>
<li class="middle"><a class="unselected" href="staffordshire.html">Staffordshire </a></li>
<li class="middle"><a class="unselected" href="sugar_creamers.html">Sugar and Creamers </a></li>
<li class="middle"><a class="unselected" href="suiteki.html">Suiteki </a></li>
<li class="middle"><a class="unselected" href="teapots.html">Teapots </a></li>
<li class="middle"><a class="unselected" href="teasets.html">Tea Sets </a></li>
<li class="last"><a class="unselected" href="wateringcans.html">Watering Cans </a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<br><br>
<h1>Rhytons</h1>
<p>
<h2 align="left"> plus Nandi and a few other liquid dispensing vessels</h2>
</p>
<p>My Webster’s third International Dictionary defines rhyton as “an ancient Greek
drinking horn of pottery, usu. having the base in the form of the head of an animal,
woman, or mythological creature.” Wikipedia is much more expansive, stating
“A <strong>rhyton</strong> (plural <strong>rhytons</strong> or, following the Greek
plural, <strong>rhyta</strong>) is a container from which fluids were intended to be
drunk or to be poured in some ceremony such
as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libation" title="Libation">libation</a>. The
English word <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/rhyton" title="wiktionary:rhyton">rhyton</a> originates
in the
ancient <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_language" title="Greek
language">Greek</a>
word ῥυτόν (<em>rhy̆tón</em> or <em>rhŭtón</em>). The conical rhyton
form has been known in the Aegean region since
the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bronze_Age" title="Bronze Age">Bronze Age</a>,
or the 2nd millennium BC. However, it was by no means confined to that region. Similar
in form to, and perhaps originating from,
the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drinking_horn" title="Drinking horn">drinking
horn</a>, it has been widespread over Eurasia since prehistoric times. (note: I saw some
great Parthian examples in a museum in Ashkabad, Turkmenistan) … Many vessels considered
rhytons featured a wide mouth at the top and a hole through a conical constriction at
the bottom from which the fluid ran. The idea is that one scooped wine or water from a
storage vessel or similar source, held it up, unstoppered the hole with one's thumb, and
let the fluid run into the mouth (or onto the ground
in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libation" title="Libation">libation</a>)… Rhyta
were often used for liquids that needed straining, such as wine, beer and oil. Some
rhyta were used in blood rituals and animal sacrifice. In these cases, the blood may
have been thinned with wine. Some vessels were modeled after the animal they were
intended to be used with during ritual, but this was not always the case… Rhyta occur
among the remains of civilizations speaking different languages and language groups in
and around the Near and Middle East, such as Persia, from the second millennium BC. They
are often shaped like animals' heads or horns and can be very ornate and compounded with
precious metals and stones.” The Google ‘Images of Rhyton’ page has some 181,000
pictures, and while the majority are of the horn-shaped form, there are also many that
feature a full-bodied caracature of a cow, bull, or other creature, molded much like the
‘modern’ cow creamer or pitcher. Indeed, some of those pictures are of works from
modern artists’ (including William Morris). </p>
<p>This section of my collection includes few of the very fancy ancient (BCE) rhytons like those shown on the History page. – most are either in
museums or extremely expensive. It does however have some that are representative of the early ones, a number acquired on eBay from the highly
reputable MDAntiquitiesfirm in the UK (most of the terracotta ones seem to have come from a collection in Canada) plus a
few that appear to be copies of ancient ones, as
well as modern vessels that are designed for uses similar to those for which rhytons were intended. Thus
here I include the Peruvian Toritos de Pucara, which originally were used to hold chicha and blood for the
cattle branding ceremony as described on the Places page. Probably inappropriately, I have also put here a
number of Spanish bull caricature vessels designed for wine or oil and vinegar (popular tourist items), as
well as other cow or bull caricatures that might best be termed ‘cruets’ but which have shapes somewhat
reminiscent of some of the early rhytons. And, I’ve snuck in a couple liquor dispensers and what I believe
to be an old Chinese soy pot, for lack of a better place.</p>
<p>More appropriately, I have added a section at the
bottom of this page for my Hindu Nandi – designed for libations of holy water in Hindu Temples devoted to
Shiva – since they, and the somewhat similar cow-headed vessels used to hold ghee to feed the holy flame, have
ritualistic purposes. </p>
<p> <div align="center">As a reminder, click on any thumbnail for a larger picture.</div></p>
<table class="maintable">
<tr>
<td colspan="2"><div align="center"><br>
<a href="pitcher/881a.jpg"><img src="pitcher/881ar.jpg" width="143" height="150" alt="Large bull rhyton"></a>
<a href="pitcher/881b.jpg"><img src="pitcher/881br.jpg" width="95" height="150" hspace="5" alt="amlash rhyton"></a>
<a href="pitcher/881c.jpg"><img src="pitcher/881cr.jpg" width="88" height="120" alt="certificate"></a></div>
<blockquote>
<p> Meet "Marduk, The Bull of Utu" (My wife liked it so much she insisted we name it - one of the few in my collection so honored).
Actually this is a lovely 800 BCE Amlash (Per Wikipedia, The term Amlash culture refers to an assortment of historic materials
and periods in Gilan and west of Mazandaran, in north of Iran. Amlash refers to the geographical region from which
some archeological objects of certain types come It does not have any real archeological meaning when used with the word culture.)
terracotta rhyton vessel per the Certicificate of Authenticity from MD Antiquities LTD of Didcot, Oxfordahire, UK.
They offer a very large number of items on their eBay site and many of the rhyton styled items in my collection have come from them.
This lovely bull is in amazingly fine condition, although its head appears to have at some point been broken off and carefully put back on.</p></blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2"><div align="center"><br>
<a href="pitcher/m137a.jpg"><img src="pitcher/m137ar.jpg" width="99" height="150" alt="Parthian rhyton vessel"></a>
<a href="pitcher/m137b.jpg"><img src="pitcher/m137br.jpg" width="139" height="150" hspace="5" alt="same.top view"></a></div>
<blockquote>
<p>A second lovely rhyton from MD Antiquities LTD, this is said by them to be a museum quality Parthian terracotta rhyton vessel.
Wikipedia informes us that "The Parthian Empire , also known as the Arsacid Empire
was a major Iranian political and cultural power in ancient Iran from 247 BC to 224 AD.
Its latter name comes from its founder, Arsaces I, who led the Parni tribe in conquering the region of Parthia
in Iran's northeast, then a satrapy (province) under Andragoras, who was rebelling against the Seleucid Empire.
Mithridates I (r. c. 171 – 132 BC) greatly expanded the empire by seizing Media and Mesopotamia
from the Seleucids. At its height, the Parthian Empire stretched from the northern reaches of the Euphrates,
in what is now central-eastern Turkey, to present-day Afghanistan and western Pakistan. The empire, located
on the Silk Road trade route between the Roman Empire in the Mediterranean Basin and the Han dynasty of China,
became a center of trade and commerce." When I indquired I was told that this was fron the estate of a major collector in Canada,. </p></blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td colspan="2"><div align="center"><br>
<a href="pitcher/m139wa.JPG"><img src="pitcher/m139war.jpg" width="164" height="150" alt="Rhyton pot head"></a>
<a href="pitcher/m139wb.JPG"><img src="pitcher/m139wbr.jpg" width="205" height="150" hspace="5" alt="Rhyton pot "></a>
<a href="pitcher/m139wc.JPG"><img src="pitcher/m139wcr.jpg" width="161" height="150" alt="Rhyton pot mouth"></a></div>
<blockquote>
<p>From the same dealer, an "Ancient Amlash Terraotte Bull Rhyton Vessel, super rare, excellent condition"...likely also
from the same Canadian collector. It's interesting in that there is a hole at both ends. Presumably one put a
finger over the bull's's mouth, filled the jug, then diapersed the liquid - to the ground or an altar if for an offering,
to the mouth if for wine. Still shows marks from when the body was made on a potter's wheel. <p><blockquote></td>
<tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2"><div align="center"><br>
<a href="pitcher/886wa.JPG"><img src="pitcher/886war.jpg" width="163" height="150" alt="Amlash bull siden"></a>
<a href="pitcher/886wb.JPG"><img src="pitcher/886wbr.jpg" width="105" height="150" hspace="5" alt="Amlash bull, front"></a></div>
<blockquote>
<p>Anbother Amlash bull rhyton, closer to what I believe is the traditional style - missing a horn and a couple ears, but with a
winsiome face and a price I couldn't resis. .</p></blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td colspan="2"><div align="center"><br>
<a href="pitcher/om181w.jpg"><img src="pitcher/om181wr.jpg" width="204" height="150" alt="large Amlash"></a>
<a href="pitcher/om180w.jpg"><img src="pitcher/om180wr.jpg" width="220" height="150" hspace="5" alt="small Amlash"></a></div><br>
<div align="center">
<a href="pitcher/om180om181a.jpg"><img src="pitcher/om180om181ar.jpg" width="183" height="150" alt="two Amlash, side"></a>
<a href="pitcher/om180om181b.jpg"><img src="pitcher/om180om181br.jpg" width="123" height="150" hspace="5" alt="2 Amlash, front" ></a></div>
<blockquote>
<p>Two more "Near Eastern Amlash Terracotta Rhyton Vessels" per MD Antiquities. Neither perfect - the larger one his missing part of a
horn and an ear and has had the end of its its mouth restoresd, and the smalkkler has tips of both horns slightly broken off.
The larger of the two has scratches on the sides - intentional or not I have no idea,. Interestuing are
the variations in interpretation of size and number of humps.<p><blockquote></td>
<tr>
<tr>
<td><div align="center">
<a href="pitcher/om190w.JPG"><img src="pitcher/om190wr.jpg" width="172" height="150" alt="AMlash backwards hump rhyton"></a></div></td>
<td><p>This one's hump is sort of pointed to the rear - or maybe it is an old guy whose hump slumped. Interesting red marks and eyes, and holes
in the small ears for earrings. It apparently was broken into at least three pirces, but has geen beautifully restored. </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2"><div align="center"><br>
<a href="pitcher/om189b.JPG"><img src="pitcher/om189br.jpg" width="96" height="150" alt="AMlash no humop rhyton"></a>
<a href="pitcher/om189s.JPG"><img src="pitcher/om189ar.jpg" width="132" height="150" hspace="5" alt="Amlash no hump side"></a></div>
<blockquote>
<p>This old long-necked Amlash bull rhyton (again from MD Antiquities) is in fine condition, missing just the very tip of the right
horn. It has no hump - but makes up for that lack with inscribed eyes and holes in the ears. I assume it once had earrings, or maybe plugs. Too ancient for ear buds. .</p></blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2"><div align="center"><br>
<a href="pitcher/om193a.JPG"><img src="pitcher/om193ar.jpg" width="182" height="150" alt="AMlash no nose rhyton"></a>
<a href="pitcher/om193b.JPG"><img src="pitcher/om193br.jpg" width="100" height="150" hspace="5" alt="Amlash no spout front"></a></div>
<blockquote>
<p> This one with a small backwards leaning hump looks more like a regular buul or cow than those with the long snout. Its hole is on the rump.</p></blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
<tr><td colspan="2"><div align="center"><br>
<a href="pitcher/om182a.JPG"><img src="pitcher/om182ar.jpg" width="122" height="150" alt="rhuton w/people on horns front"></a>
<a href="pitcher/om182b.JPG"><img src="pitcher/om182br.jpg" width="159" height="150" hspace="5" alt="rt side "></a>
<a href="pitcher/om182c.JPG"><img src="pitcher/om182cr.jpg" width="175" height="150" alt="l side"></a></div>
<blockquote>
<p>Strange but interesting. This Near Eastern Amlash Terracotta Rhyton Vessel (per MD Antiquities)
has 3 legs, prople (men presumably) handing onto its horns
and head, and little circles with dots in the canter all aound the body. It seems to have had
considerable use because several spots are rubbed - at least I assume that accounts for the
orange coloration. <p><blockquote></td>
<tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2"><div align="center"><br>
<a href="pitcher/bullrhyton1.jpg"><img src="pitcher/bullrhyton1r.jpg" width="143" height="160" alt="Persian bronze rhyton"></a>
<a href="pitcher/bullrhyton2.jpg"><img src="pitcher/bullrhyton2r.jpg" width="138" height="160" hspace="5" alt="Persian bull rhyton, cleaned"></a></div>
<blockquote>
<p>This, per the ebay seller MD Antiquities of the UK, is a bronze Persian rhyton circa 300BC.
It came with a lot of verdigris which I decided to remove, and it looks quite nice with the bronze
exposed and shiny. This bull is a very interesting and heavy bronze piece, and nicely fits the Rhyton
definition since it certainly appears designed to pour a libation of come sort. The seller said they
usually came in sets (a similar one was sold on eBay shortly before this one), and there would have been
many around a round table. I have no experience with antiquities like this, but hope to learn more.</p></blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2"><div align="center"><br>
<a href="pitcher/persianheada.jpg"><img src="pitcher/persianheadar.jpg" width="200" height="185" alt="Persiam bull head rhyton"></a>
<a href="pitcher/persianheadb.jpg"><img src="pitcher/persianheadbr.jpg" width="200" height="185" hspace="5" alt="Persian bull head rhyton cleaned"></a></div>
<blockquote>
<p> From the same UK seller came this Persian bull head rhyton - in this case more like a drinking vessel - said to be @400 BC.
It was heavily encrusted but after several days in vinegar and a bit of light brushing it came somewhat clean, nicely
displaying the bronze.</p></blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2"><div align="center"><br>
<a href="pitcher/om160a.jpg"><img src="pitcher/om160ar.jpg" width="120" height="165" hspace="5"alt="Silver 500bce Persian bullhead rhyton side"></a>
<a href="pitcher/om160b.jpg"><img src="pitcher/om160br.jpg" width="105" height="165" alt="Silver 500bce Persian bullhead rhyton front"></a>
<a href="pitcher/om160c.jpg"><img src="pitcher/om160cr.jpg" width="135" height="120" hspace="5" alt="Silver 500bce Persian bullhead rhyton head"></a>
<a href="pitcher/om160d.jpg"><img src="pitcher/om160dr.jpg" width="160" height="120" alt="Silver 500bce Persian bullhead rhyton sidfe"></a></div>
<blockquote>
<p>Here's another superb rhyton, in this case one made for drinking rather than simply pouring.- sort of like English 'stirrup cups'
-from MD Antiquities - said to be "circa 500BCE Ancient Persian hand beaten
silver rhyton vessel". I checked it and a magnet didn't stick and the test acid left a small mark, so I believe
it is indeed some form of silver, although it doesn't shine up very well. Not surprising given its age, I guess.
Like the two above it came looking like it had been buried for a while - dust and dirt. </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> <div align="center">
<a href="pitcher/om185w.JPG"><img src="pitcher/om185wr.jpg" width="98" height="150" alt="ceramic drinking rhyton"></a></div></td>
<td><p>A second drinking rhyton, this time sold by MD Antiquities simply as 'ancient near eastern'. It's heavy
earthenware with a teaL colored glaze, now heavily cracked.
My wife thuiks it's neat andthe color matches many of her pots,
so it goes on display in our living room. We got it the day of the 2024 election
so she named it 'Kamela' because like VP Harris it's very nice looking has its neck stuck out. </p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> <div align="center">
<a href="pitcher/om186a.JPG"><img src="pitcher/om186ar.jpg" width="84" height="150" alt="archaemenid front"></a>
<a href="pitcher/om186b.JPG"><img src="pitcher/om186br.jpg" width="89" height="150" hspace="5" alt="archaemenid side"></a></div></td>
<td><p>This simple drinking bronze rhyton with a bull protome may be one of my oldest - from the Archaemenid Empire circa 500BC
according to MD antiquities. My visit to Wikipedia yielded:"The Achaemenid Empire or Achaemenian Empire, also known as the
Persian Empire or First Persian Empire (/əˈkiːmənɪd/; Old Persian: Xšāça, lit. 'The Empire' or 'The Kingdom' ),
was an Iranian empire founded by Cyrus the Great of the Achaemenid dynasty in 550 BC. Based in modern-day Iran,
it was the largest empire by that point in history, spanning a total of 5.5 million square kilometers (2.1 million square miles).
The empire spanned from the Balkans and Egypt in the west, West Asia as the base, the majority of Central Asia to the northeast,
and the Indus Valley to the southeast." This lovely rhyton was said to be 'rare' - and is in great shepe with very
little corrosion and no dings. Makes one woneder...</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> <div align="center">
<a href="miniature/om191w.JPG"><img src="miniature/om191wr.jpg" width="128" height="150" alt="tiny drinking rhyton"></a></div></td>
<td><p>I need help with this one - very similar, bronze, but tiny. I have seen other tiny ones both like this and in somewhat different forms,
but can't fathom what they
may have been used for. Bought from a crete seller, said to be from 1000-500 BC. Inexpensive enoiugh, and it makes an absolutely
superb addition to my miniatture collection...where it is also shown.</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> <div align="center">
<a href="pitcher/om188w.JPG"><img src="pitcher/om188wr.jpg" width="113" height="150" alt="Aechemaeinid drinking rhyton"></a></div></td>
<td><p>This one, also Archaemnid (and very rare per MD antiquities - albeit they sold 2 others similar) bronze drinking rhyton
with bull protome rivals the one above for age. Somewhat fancier, lighter, embossed with decorations and mules, and with a few
missing pieces of the outer layer. </p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> <div align="center">
<a href="pitcher/om187w.JPG"><img src="pitcher/om187wr.jpg" width="182" height="150" alt="stirrup cups"></a></div></td>
<td><p>OK, these two break ALL the rules. BUT - since I welcomed drinking rhytons from the near east and said they were like
English stirrup cups, I figured I owed it to
the fox hunters of England to throw in their versions - here pewter stirrup cups by Towle. The name comes from the practice
of offering a farewell drink to your guests when they are alrerady in the saddle and ready to ride off ...or perchance
to have a bit of a toddy to warm up a tad before plaguing the poor fox. </p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2"><div align="center"><br>
<a href="pitcher/om161a.jpg"><img src="pitcher/om161ar.jpg" width="212" height="160" hspace="5" alt="rock crystal rhyton", side"></a>
<a href="pitcher/om161b.jpg"><img src="pitcher/om161br.jpg" width="122" height="160" alt="rock crystal rhyton, front"></a></div>
<blockquote>
<p>This one, also from MD Atiquities, was advertised as a museum quality ancient near eastern rock crystal
rhyton vessel with a bull's head. It is nicely carved, it certainly appears to be rock crystal of
some sort (whatever that is) and came clean. I feel it was well
worth the $80 and is a quite different addition to the collection. I wish I know of some way to verify
the nature of these things - but I think that even the dealers have trouble. Lots of things are getting
smuggled out of the middle east these days, and of course folks are still making 'antiquities',
so I imagine that even experts make mistakes. With its huge number of items and guaranties of antiquity,
I believe MD Antiquities to be one of the more trusted dealers. I certainly buy with finger-crossed confidence from them.<p></blockquote>
<td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><div align="center">
<a href="pitcher/883w.JPG"><img src="pitcher/883wr.jpg" width="203" height="150" alt="Chinese glass flagon bull"><a?</div></td>
<td><p> Although amber glass like the one above, this flagon or rhyton is distinctly Chinese. It came from an ebay site called
"hongsan-culture" that shows well over 4000 items...so many that it seems to loose track of them. The first one I tried to
buy from them they never found, and it took them a couple weeks to locate this one. It was heavily encrusted (a sign of age perhaps)
and I removed part of that. Interesting interpretation.</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2"><div align="center"><br>
<a href="pitcher/2899.jpg"><img src="pitcher/2899r.jpg" width="200" height="160" hspace="5" alt="Small Viking terracotta rhyton", side"></a>
<a href="pitcher/2898.jpg"><img src="pitcher/2898r.jpg" width="141" height="160" alt="Small Viking terracotta rhyton, front"></a></div>
<blockquote>
<p> The UK seller from whom I purchased this little vessel on ebay stated in his description that it is
Viking terracotta rhyton dating from around 250-350 AD, and came from a private 1970s collection of
Eastern European items. It's too small to be useful for drinking (except perhaps for a very tiny Viking)
and is unglazed so not really suitable for liquids meant to be consumed. He also stated that it's unusual
in that it bears a fertility symbol (which I have been unable to locate). But then, he also said exactly
the same thing about a similar gost's head piece, so I am beginning to doubt all the above. And, later
he advertised an identical piece with another story, so it seems it's a modern fake. Nonetheless, it was
very affordable and sorta looks like a 'drinking' rhyton...and it's fairly interesting in its own right,
if crude.</p></blockquote></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="pitcher/OM140.JPG"><img src="pitcher/om140r.JPG" width="200" height="144" alt="small Amlash clay bull figurine"></a></td>
<td>Well, this was sold as a rhyton, and although it has no holes it does seem to be
a cute little bull effigy. It was said to be Amlash, 1st millennium BC, and came
certified as original from an antiquities dealer
in Cyprus. It was sufficiently inexpensive as these
things go that I thought it would make a good contribution to this part
of the collection. Amlash is a fairly generic term referring to a geographic region
in northern <u></u><u></u>Iran<u></u><u></u>, and apparently most of the artifacts
from there date to the 9th-8th century <u></u>BCE<u></u>. A check of the photos on
google shows that hump backed bulls seemed to be popular items for Amlash
rhytons.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2"><div align="center"><br>
<a href="pitcher/om172a.jpg"><img src="pitcher/om172ar.jpg" width="169" height="150" alt="small terracotta rhyton"></a>
<a href="pitcher/om172b.jpg"><img src="pitcher/om172br.jpg" width="119" height="150" hspace="5" alt="amlash rhyton"></a></div>
<blockquote>
<p>This was sold as a 'superb beautiful small terracotta Amlash bull rhyton, rare', by a company in Whitby,
Canada, that had only been sellng on eBay for a couple months. It is indeed really cute, and has a hole in
the snout. It is in great condition, and has a nice Amlash shape. The seller's description said it was original,
but of unknown age and place of origin. Having bought it with Canadian dollars, I was somewhat surprised ro find
whwn it arrived that it was shipped from Farid & Mirrwais Novelties Trading, Umm Ramool, Dubai UAE.
This I'd guess its age as a couole months, and its origin as Dubai, UAE and yes it probably is rare,
because I doubt they could count on selling many of these. I could of course be wrong and I hope I am,...but as the old saying goes,
you pay your money, you take your chances. Whatever,I do like it, and at least it didn't cost the umpteen
thousand dollars that I have seen Amlach rhytons on offer for. </p></blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2"><div align="center"><br>
<a href="pitcher/om164a.jpg"><img src="pitcher/om164ar.jpg" width="208" height="150" alt="Homg kong persian rhyton"></a>
<a href="pitcher/om164b.jpg"><img src="pitcher/om164br.jpg" width="122" height="150" hspace="5" alt="Homg kong persian rhyton front"></a></div>
<blockquote>
<p>This one is, to my mind, quite cute. It was described on Ebay as "Ancient Persian Terracotta Rhyton Vessel with bull head, Rare", from a seller said to be in Hing Kong. It was mailed to me from New York. OK...I'd give it about a 3% probability of being as advertised. If it is, great. No way that I know of to verify...but then I didn't expect a lot, just thought the shape and round ears and stubby front legs were interesting. It doesn't take a lot of room on the shelf.</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><div align="center">
<a href="pitcher/om165.jpg"><img src="pitcher/om165r.jpg" width="140" height="150" alt="small bull head rhyton"></a></div>
</td>
<td> <p>This one came from the same Hong Kong seller as the one just above. It's also just as unlikely to be Ancient Persian as advertised - but I assume someone had fun making it. It was cheap enough and interesting enough that in spite of almost certainly being a fake or rather reproduction, I decided to get it.</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2">><div align="center"><br>
<a href="pitcher/img2972.JPG"><img src="pitcher/img2972r.JPG" width="230" height="150" alt="Chinese bull head drinking horn" ></a>
<a href="pitcher/om77ab.jpg"><img src="pitcher/om77abr.jpg" width="245" height="150" hspace="5" alt="2 similar dark blue"></a></div>
<blockquote>
<p>I got the cloisonne-like drinking rhyton on the left a number of years ago from an Enlish seller who thought it was Chinese. Then the two on the right cane up on eBay and I guess I didn't compare well enough because it turns out that they are the same as the other one, only with a dark blue background. The English seller of these said she got them at an auction in Workingham, Berkshire around 2003 and that the auictioneer said they had belonged to a merchant mariner and he thought they were Persian. Whatever...they are quite lovely and make a nice addition to the colelction. </p></blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><div align="center">
<a href="miniature/om168w.jpg"><img src="miniature/om168wr.jpg" width="183" height="150" alt'"wedgewood bull head rhyton"></a></div></td>
<td><p>Here is another drinking horn or rhyton, this one a very special dollhouse cow or rather bull, more modern than the ancient ones
but with a bit of age nonetheless (It is also featured on the Miniatures page). The English seller acquired it at a "very fanous" toy and
doll auction, where the specialist informed her it was Edwardian, made by Wedgewood. The jasper coloration and beautiful molding certainly
attests to that origin. Doll houses were very populaer in that era which is what likely induced Wedgewood to enter the game(the seller has a
few others by them from the same coillection and auction, but this was the only cow/bull). </p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><div align="center">
<a href="miniature/om192w.JPG"><img src="miniature/om192wr.jpg" width="184" height="150" alt'"greek drinking rhyton"></a></div></td>
<td><p>This one is a second take on the same theme. In this case, a new Greek drinking rhyton fashioned by Emanuela Valenza of LaboratoriodiManu
in Genoa Italy. She makes magnificent dollhouse miniatures, available on Etsy. And of course it is also featured on my Miniatures page</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2"><div align="center"><br>
<a href="pitcher/851a.jpg"><img src="pitcher/851ar.jpg" width="217" height="150" alt="Celtic Viking bull"></a>
<a href="pitcher/851b.jpg"><img src="pitcher/851b.jpg" width="185" height="150" hspace="5" alt="rhyton bull head"></a></div>
<blockquote>
<p>This massive bull was sold as a "Celtic ritual rhyton Viking Bull AD 200-400". The interlocking diamonds on its shoulders do seem to match the description. It came to me from an antique dealer in Ebbs Austria who seems to largely specialize in coins. He kindly told me that he acquired it from the heirs of a serious collector from Munich, Germany who had bought it in an antique shop in Oslo, Norway. It is interesting in that it has both a raised fill hole, and a pour hole...in its forehead. I tried if and it does pour, albeit a bit sloppily. Perhaps it was intended for a ritualistic liquid somewhat more viscous than water. </p></blockquote>
</td>/
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2"><div align="center"><br>
<a href="pitcher/632.JPG"><img src="pitcher/632r.jpg" alt="rhyton" width="200" height="155" alt="Modern replica of Cypriot bull rhyton"></a>
<a href="pitcher/cypriot-rhyton.png"><img src="pitcher/cypriot-rhytonr.png" width="220" height="155" hspace="5" alt="Google Rhyton image"></a></div>
<blockquote>
<p>My modern red-clay jug with the grey glaze and stylized markings bears a
close family resemblance to this Cypriot rhyton whose picture I downloaded from
google’s rhyton images. The seller said she’d like to think that it was Cretan or
Etruscan, and it turns out she was pretty close. </p><blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><div align="center">
<a href="pitcher/872w.jpg"><img src="pitcher/872wr.jpg" width="148" height="150" alt="Cypriot rhyton"></a></div></td>
<td>
<p>Thuis is a 2022 reproduction rhyton from the Nicosia Museum on Cyorus. The seller states
"The bull was one of the paramount religious symbols of Eastern Mediterranean peoples in the Late
Bronze Age and was linked with fertility as well as with supernatural strength. It frequently
assumed the form of major male deities, such as Apis in Egypt, Anu in Mesopotamia, El in Canaan,
and so on, while in Minoan Crete it developed into a symbol of both religious and royal authority.
In Cyprus, the religious connotations of the bull are attested already from the Early Bronze Age,
when clay bucrania were placed on top of sanctuary models. They become even more obvious in the
Late Bronze Age with the production of several bull rhyta and the adornment of altars with stone
or clay bull horns. Please be aware that, due to the fact that our products are either
individually cast, carved, hand painted and hand finished, there will inevitably be minor
variations in size, colour and texture." It is indeed a very fine piece.</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><div align="center">
<a href="pitcher/890x.JPG">"<img src="pitcher/890xr.JPG" width="184" height="151" alt="Minoan replica"></a></div>
</td>
<td>
<p>Per its tag, this nice replica is a "Greek Articfact of the Neolithic, Cycladic and Archaic Period,
4000BC-400BC", and on the other side, "Bull shaoped rhyton from Philakopi (Milos), 14th cent BC".
Amazibng that the original was (presumably) in sufficiently good shape to enable the construction of this replica. Its horns
have been repaiored but it displays nicely.
</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<a href="pitcher/img2980.JPG"><img src="pitcher/img2980r.JPG" width="200" height="127" alt="two stylized bull vessels"></a></td>
<td>
<p>Both of these stylized bulls came to me from the UK. With their large swept
back horns and conjoined legs as well as the symbols on the sides they’re clearly
intended to be reproductions or at least representations of some earlier ritualistic
vessel.</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2"><div align="center"><br>
<a href="pitcher/852a.jpg"><img src="pitcher/852ar.jpg" width="187" height="150" alt="Cypriot ritual cow"></a>
<<a href="pitcher/852b.jpg"><img src="pitcher/852br.jpg" width="159" height="150" hspace="5" alt="cypriot cow fromt"></a></div>
<blockquote>
<p> Several years after I got the two above, this one showed up and is alledged to be an original from which the reproductions may have been modelled. This one cane from the same seller, and indeed from the heirs of the same Munich collector, bought at the same time as the Celtic bull above.. The Ebay description said it is Greek pottery, a Cypriot, Ascus, Ritual Vessel dating from 800-600BC. In respone to my query the seller indicated that the collector's notes indicate it was purchased bin March 2017 from "non-professional archaeologists from Turkey, who found it near the present-day town of Tasucu, which is not far from the town of Mersim." I'm not at all sure what to think about 'non=professional archaeologists' but I guess there are legitimate such. At any rate it's very hard clay and in good condition and I'd like to believe it is as advertised. It certainly bears a very close reseblance to the reprocuctions, albei when I biught them they came with no further informaion..</p></blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> <div align="center">
<a href="pitcher/om145.jpg"><img src="pitcher/OM145r.JPG" width="140" height="200" alt="small Minoan bull head rhyton replica"></a>
</div>
</td>
<td><s<p>This is a small replica of a Minoan Bull’s Head Rhyton from
Crete. From the number of postcards and replicas of it and many very similar bulls’
heads available on eBay it seems to be a popular museum piece.</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="pitcher/756.JPG"><img src="pitcher/756r.JPG" width="200" height="206" alt="Peruvian Torito de Pucara"></a></td>
<td>
<p>This is a Peruvian Torito de Pucara. Rhyton ‘purists’ would probably object
because there is no Greek or Persian heritage here, but rather a combination of Spanish and
indigenous Andean. However as noted in other places where I have displayed these
lovely bull vessels (see expecially Pery on the Places page), they were initially designed for rituals associated with the
cattle-branding ceremony, to hold a mixture of blood and chicha (corn-based beer).
Thus they certainly meet the basic (expanded) definition. They have become a very
popular souvenir of Peru, and also are often found in pairs on newly-completed roofs
of houses, bearing a bottle each of chicha and holy water.</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="pitcher/novicatoritos.jpg"><img src="pitcher/novicatoritosr.jpg" width="200" height="233" alt="two Peruvian artisan versions of torito de pucara"></a></td>
<td>
<p>Here are two more Toritos, both acquired from Novica which sells products
from artisans around the world to folks like me. The large greyish one is by Walter
Jose Acosta, from the Huambo province in the Amazon region of Peru, who is
dedicated to perpetuating the beauty of Peruvian ceramic art. The little black one
is by Maribel Posso Olivares who with a friend now heads a workshop with about 12
artisans, creating ‘alasitas’ which are tiny items reflecting wishes. Novics states that its mission
is to spread happiness to both the artisans and to their customers, and their items come beautifully
(and safely) wrapped, and in the case of these two, with little dolls attached to the red bows.</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2"><div align="center"><br>
<a href="pitcher/847s.jpg"><img src="pitcher/847sr.jpg" width="159" height="150" hspace="5"
alt="2 plastic toritos"></a>
<a href="moremv/864w.jpg"><img srC="moremv/864wr.jpg" width="144" height="150" alt="clay TORITO"></a></div>
<blockquote>
<p>Yet three more - the bright ones on the left were sold as Mexican cow jugs but are pretty obviously Toritos. They are wildly painted and also very light, more like some sort of plastic rather than clay. On the right is a more traitional clay one, definitely Peruvian.</p><blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><div align="center">
<a href="moremv/2x733om12.jpg"><img src="moremv/2x733om12r.jpg" width="116" height="145" alt="Peruvian torito & 2 miniatures"></a></div></td>
<td>
<p>The larger one here was my very first Torito, although at the time I didn't know what it was - I just thought it was a neat Mexican bull, available at a church yard sale for a nickel. The little ones came much later. They have the classic form, but just are tiny to serve as alasitas, or to appeal to tourists with small bags. They also will appear on the Miniatures page.</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="pitcher/img2978.JPG"><img src="pitcher/img2978r.JPG" width="200" height="160" alt="Peruvian bull and torito"></a></td>
<td>
<p>Two more from Peru – the one on the right is a version of the Torito, and the
other a quite different stylized version of a bull. Its tongue very nearly covers
the hole in its nose. When my wife and I visited Peru we encountered a very large
number of marvelous old pottery figures, some quite scatological and all fanciful,
in the museums. As noted above, bulls were not native to the area so this type of
figure appears only after the Spanish conquest.</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><div align="center">
<a href="pitcher/OM151.JPG"><img src="pitcher/OM151r.jpg" width="150" height="200" alt="Model
of Peruvian roof toritos" ></a></div></td>
<td>
<p>Here is a small facsimile of how the Peruvians often
display the toritos on their homes. To quote the seller who was from Cuzco “The
torito of pucara is a ceramic handicrafts of the district of Pupuja, in the province
of Azángaro, Peruvian department of Puno. It is a totemic symbol known as qonopas
(Quechua) and / or Illas (Aymara), used in Andean rituals and ceremonies of
protection, happiness and fertility in married life. In the perception of the Andean
settlers that the pair of pucará toritos on the roof is a sign of protection and
happiness in the home, it is an Andean duality that represents the husband and the
woman that represent the fusion of positive and negative energies that the
Equilibrium And the common good. At present, this piece has become a symbol of
Peruvian Andean identity. The singular finish of the toritos are imperfect figures,
of rough aspect, although they are charming and handmade in all ways. The objects
are tied with the sheepskin and the black color is because they are destined to be
buried in the day of the Pachamama the 1 of August of each year.”</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><div align="center">
<a href="pitcher/om183w.jpg"><img src="pitcher/om183wr.jpg" width="92" height="150" alt="Doll with
torito etc" ></a></div></td>
<td>
<p>No, Dolls are not generally part of the dollection. However this well dressed Peruvian lady - in addition to carrying 3 babies
(one on her back), a llama, and a pitcher of chicha - is cuddling a tiny torito de pucara,. Thus she is more
than welcome to grace this page. </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2"><div align="center"><br>
<a href="pitcher/om90.jpg"><img src="pitcher/om90r.jpg" alt="pitcher" width="190" height="165" alt="stylized ceramic bull pitcher"></a>
<a href="moremv/mt26.jpg"><img src="moremv/mt26r.jpg" alt="c" width="210" height="165" hspace="5" alt="stylized metal bull pitcher"></a></div>
<blockquote>
<p>Both of these large stylized bulls have just a single hole in the snout, and
bear a interesting resemblance to some of the ones I found on the google rhyton
images page. They’re clearly not made for cream or milk – but would serve well for
wine (or blood). The red glazed ceramic one came to me from Ontario Canada and the
only information the seller could provide is that he got it at an estate sale from
someone who had an extensive pottery collection, and that it’s most likely Blue
Mountain or CCC pottery.</p></blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2"><div align="center"><br>
<a href="pitcher/om52.jpg"><img src="pitcher/om52r.jpg" width="170" height="140" alt="Brown bull with stopper"></a>
<a href="pitcher/om52mark.jpg"><img src="pitcher/om52markr.jpg" width="219" height="120" hspace="5" alt="Brown bull with stopper marks"></a><div>
<blockquote>
<p>This large brown bull with a stopper on its back seems to have 3 martini glasses on its sides. It's signed, but I sure can't decipher it. The seller said it came from Sweden, so perhaps at one point it contained aquavit, and was used for libations to Thor or Odin (or Loki or Freya or...).</p></blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="pitcher/wine.jpg"><img src="pitcher/winer.jpg" alt="2" width="200" height="185" alt="Spanish bull caricature wine jug and cruets"></a></td>
<td>
<p>Here starts a series of cow shaped containers that likely have no ritualistic purpose, but don't
really fit in other pages of this web site. We begin with a pair of Spanish cruets from Seville, presumably designed
for oil and vinegar (and for sale to tourists). The large one with the bull on its belly is intended, I believe, for wine. </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2"> <div align="center"><br>
<a href="pitcher/m89.jpg"><img src="pitcher/m89r.jpg" alt="1" width="215" height="195"
hspace="5" alt="Spanish wine jugs with impressionistic bulls"></a>
<a href="pitcher/m98.JPG"><img src="pitcher/m98r.jpg" alt="2" width="120" height="195"
hspace="5" alt="Mexican bull faceds wine jug"></div>
<blockquote>
<p>On the left are two wine pitchers decorated with an impressionistic bull. They're
meant to be mother and child I guess since only a Mom could love a face like that. Sharing this
section is a similarly shaped vessel from Mexico.</p></blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2"><div align="center"> <br>
<a href="places/854a.jpg"><img src="places/854ar.jpg" width="157" height="150" alt="Punter bull, side"></a>
<a href="places/854b.jpg"><img src="places/854br.jpg" width="119" height="150"hspace="5" alt="Punter bull, front"></a></div>
<blockquote>
<p>This interesting “Punter” signed pitcher comes from the workshop of fifth generation ceramicist Domingo Punter and his family (Artesiana Domingo Punter e Hijos, S.A,). located in the Plaza de Cathedral of Teruel (Aragon), a high altitude town in eastern Spain noted for its Mudejar architecture, a mix of Gothic and Islamic. I could not find a web site for them, but a number of other sites feature their pottery and tell us that the dark red clay from this region is very dense, and that their work is intended to reproduce the Spanish Romantic style of the 14c., thus the somewhat primitive designs and only the black and green colors of that period. This quite idiosyncratic cow or bull is dated ’57 and came to me from the Netherlands. The 'puckered' moith and large horns are reminiscent of other Spanish bull cruets and wine jugs, but the body and legs seem to be unique to ths family. The price on Ebay was quite low for work from the Pungter studio, but shipping made up for it.</p></blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2">
<div align="center"><br>
<a href="pitcher/" cuencaclaybullf.jpg"><img src="pitcher/cuencaclaybullfr.jpg" width="135" height="155"
hspace=5" alt="clay Cuenca bull, front"></a>
<a href="pitcher/cuencaclaybulll.jpg"><img src="pitcher/cuencaclaybulllr.jpg" width="200" height="155"
alt="clay Cuenca bull, left"></a></div>
<blockquote>
<p>This is a traditional clay piece from Cuenca, Spain. From what I can glean from a number of web
sites and a knowledgeable UK seller, it is an
example of Cuenca’s most typical pottery item, the so called "Toro Ibérico"
(Iberian Bull) which was originally created by the master potter Pedro Mercedes who
was inspired by an Iberian bull head from the 7c Moorish period which was found in
the town of Huete and is kept in the Museo de Cuenca. Apparently the modern ones became favored as
family gifts representing the spirit and courage of the Spanish or Iberian bull, a reputation gained
from bullfights. These cute little bulls proved to be very popular and have morphed into souvenirs,
as well as into vessels used - like those above - for oil and vinegar or perhaps wine.</p></blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="pitcher/cuenca.jpg"><img src="pitcher/cuencar.jpg" alt="Souvenir Cuenca bulls" width="200"
height="140"></a></td>
<td>
<p> Here are a couple of the souvenir versions - much more gaudy than the traditional clay form. They
both have raised letters that read “Recuerdo de Cuenca” , Souvenir of Cuenca. The smaller one also
has an impressed seal on its right rump that reads “E. del Castillo Alfarero , Cuenca” and Emilio
Castillo’s ceramic studio is indeed in Cuenca Spain. </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="pitcher/iberianbull.jpg"><img src="pitcher/iberianbullr.jpg" alt="Large Souvenir Cuenca bull"
width="180" height="190"></a></td>
<td>
<p> Some potters - and some tourists - apparently got carried away. This 'Recuerdo' is downright huge
and heavy. </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<a href="modernvariation/m95.JPG"><img src="modernvariation/m95r.jpg" alt="Small Toro Iberico:" width="190" height="185"></a></td>
<td><p> More reasonable in size, and much more common in the gift shops (and on ebay) are small 'Toros Iberico" like this one, suitable like the small bottle-shaped ones with bull's heads for oil and vinegar, and a bit too skimpy for wine.</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<div align="left"><a href="modernvariation/136mv.jpg"><img src="modernvariation/136mvr.jpg" alt="5"
width="200" height="172" alt="Toro Iberico from Costa del Sol"></a></div>
</td>
<td>
<p><br> Here’s another of the same shape, this time with cats on the side,
advertising a holiday resort in Torremolinos, Costa del Sol, Spain. It was made in Spain and is
marked with a red crown over a cup with a V, over a blue wreath with
“Valdelvira” at the bottom. The popularity of the Toro Iberico has clearly spread well past Cuenca.
</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="pitcher/818.JPG"><img src="pitcher/818r.JPG" width="200" height="184" alt="Large white flowered Toto Iberico from Barcelona"></a></td>
<td>
<p>This brightly decorated version with bulgy yellow eyes is made of red clay and is marked for “J.
Roig, P. Espanol, Barcelona”</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p><a href="moremv/3cruets.jpg"><img src="moremv/3cruetsr.jpg" width="191" height="145" alt="Three small bull cruets"></a></p>
<p><a href="modernvariation/135mv.jpg"><img src="modernvariation/135mvr.jpg" alt="three small bull pitchers"" width="200" height="106"></a></p>
</td>
<td>
<p><br> These small versions - some typical Iberain bull in form and others considerably more fanciful
- are likely intended to hold olive oil or something similar - but they probably have a right to be
on this page given that their shape is quite reminiscent of some of early ritualistic vessels. Then
again, for those on a Mediterranean diet, use of olive oil can indeed be considered a ritual. The
first one of these that my wife and I got was the reddish brown clay one with the earrings in the
middle of the upper picture. We purchased it in a shop in San Gimignano, Italy, in 1990. It carries
fond memories of a pleasant vacation in central Italy, and a fascinating old
town of nine towers. Great wine in the area, too! The only other one of these
that’s marked is the dark brown one on the far left of the upper picture: from Enesco, and made in
Japan. Perhaps it should be called a "Toro Nipponico". The little grey-blue cup with cow head spout
on the far right in the lower picture is hand made, and almost certainly comes from somewhere in the
US; the eBay seller was in Arizona. I conclude that the traditional Curnca Bull has indeed become
world-renowned.</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2">
<div align="center"><br>
<a href="moremv/737687side.jpg"><img src="moremv/737687sider.jpg" alt="Two bull cruets, side" width="200"
height="148" hspace="5"></a>
<a href="moremv/737687front.jpg"><img src="moremv/737687frontrt.jpg"
alt="two bull cruets, front"" width="160" height="148"></a>
</div>
<div align="center">Yet two more big ones for good measure </div>
<br>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="pitcher/45.jpg"><img src="pitcher/45r.jpg" alt="Russian bull liquor dispenser"" width="200" height="191" ></a></td>
<td>
<p>This interesting Russian liquor dispenser came, thanks to eBay, from a seller
in Vratsa, Bulgaria.</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="pitcher/46.jpg"><img src="pitcher/46r.jpg" width="200" height="113" "Bull decanter pulling wagon with cups"></a></td>
<td>
<p>This bull pulling the little wagon with cups is a liquor decanter – its head
comes off for pouring.</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="pitcher/om121.JPG"><img src="pitcher/om121r.jpg" width="200" height="162" alt="Japanese caricature bull decanter and cups"></a></td>
<td>
<p>Here is another version of a liquor dispenser. There are some very lovely
French ones on the Faience page, but this one is quite obviously Japanese (and it
has a sticker that says so), labeled for “PAC” although it has all the
characteristics of several other cows scattered throughout that came from
Thames. Somehow I can’t imagine it holding sake. Indeed, I doubt that one like
this was ever sold in Japan – only some crazy American would ever buy something this
weird.</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<a href="pitcher/om171w.jpg"><img src="pitcher/om171wr.jpg" width="199" height="150" alt="glass bull decanter"></a></td>
<td><p>Some glass-blower has a sense of humor. Likely Italian? Seller made a few futile guesses at the maker but best just to say I have no idea. Pretty obvious how this one works (the shadow makes that especially clear) - and it does have 2 holes so is fully qualified for the collection. It came with cork stoppers for both the in and the out orifices - but like a suiteki, if the top fill hole is tightly pluged, he doesn't leak. Lovely eyelshes, too. I think I will use it for slivovika which is clear as well as tasty. </p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><div align="center">
<a href="pitcher/sg295w.jpg"><img src="pitcher/sg295wr.jpg" width="122" height="150" alt="peeing red bull"></a></div></td>
<td><p> As if the one above wasn't bad enough, try this one..., I am embarassed to say that I actually paid money for it...although it was cheap.
The only saving grace is that it does meet the 2-hole criterion, even if the fill hole is
a basket and the 'pour' hole is between its feet. I think it was intended to amuse children. </p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><a href="pitcher/44.jpg"><img src="pitcher/44r.jpg" alt="5" width="200" height="204" alt="Old Chinese bull headed soy pot"></a></td>
<td>
<p>This is an old Chinese earthenware pot with the head of a bull or water
buffalo that the seller claimed is 17c Qing Dynasty; it’s beaten up enough to be so,
although it’s now against the law to export items from China that date from before
1911. It was most likely designed to hold water or, even more likely, soy
sauce. </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="99" colspan="2">
<h2 align="center"><a name="Nandi"></a>NANDI – Hindu holy water pots and other temple cows and bulls</h2>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2">
<div align="center"><BR>
<a href="teapots/mt2107.JPG"><img src="teapots/mt21r.jpg" width="185" height="200"
hspace="5" alt="Brass Nandi Holy water pot"></a>
<a href="teapots/mt2107.JPG"><img src="teapots/mt2107r.jpg" width="215" height="200" alt="Brass Nandi Holy water pot on metal shipping box"></a>
</div>
<blockquote>
<p>As I understand it (I get confused by Hindu deities), Nandi the white bull is Shiva’s vahana or
vehicle, the mount on which he rides. A note from the Philadelphia Museum of Art adds that “Shiva is
a great ascetic whose power emerges as contained sexual energy. Appropriately, he is accompanied by
the virile bull. An image of Nandi sits in the hall or porch of temples dedicated to Shiva, facing
into the sanctum like the primary devotee that it is.” In ancient India, he was also an independent
deity known as Nandikeshvara, the Lord of Joy, represented as a man with a bull’s head. The folks
who sold me this lovely older copper version – which comes from Jodhpur in Rajasthan – said that
these pots are used by priests to spray holy water on the devotees who come to worship at Shiva’s
shrine, or are carried by holy men to hold and disperse holy water from the Ganges. As you will
note, this Nandi arrived very carefully packaged for safety in an old tin for Kashmir Snow Beauty
Aids.</p></blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2">
<div align="center"><BR>
<a href="teapots/mt24.JPG"><img src="teapots/mt24r.jpg" width="215" height="158" hspace="5" alt="Modern copper Nandi holy water pot"></a>
<a href="teapots/mt17.jpg"><img src="teapots/mt17r.jpg" width="200" height="158" alt="Modern copper Nandi holy water pot"></a></div>
<p><div align="center"> Here are two modern brass Nandi, both coming direct from India but without the fancy box.</div></p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><div align="center">
<a href="pitcher/my41a.jpg"><img src="pitcher/my41ar.jpg" width="154" height="150" alt="bronxe and silver nandi"></a></div></td>
<td><p> This is a particularly nice example, with bronze head, tail, base and lid, but with a silverish body bearing an impressed Buddha plus the bull's legs and a lot of flowers and other decorations.</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="179"><a href="teapots/IMG_3870.JPG"><img src="teapots/IMG_3870r.JPG" width="200" height="126" alt="Two small Nandi water pots"></a></td>
<td height="179">
<p>Here are two small nandi water pots. The one on the left with nicely inscribed marks was said to be
from Natal, but was shipped from Singapore. The copper one on the right is from India; it was very
dirty and tarnished when it arrived so I cleaned it up a bit.</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2">
<div align="center"><br>
<a href="moremv/mt4.jpg"><img src="moremv/mt4r.jpg" alt="Brass Nandi" width="130" height="145" ></a>
<a href="moremv/mt1.jpg"><img src="moremv/mt1r.jpg" width="118" height="145" hspace="5" alt="silverish nandi"></a>
<a href="teapots/17.jpg"><img src="teapots/17r.jpg" width="200"
height="111" hspace="5" alt="Cow ghee pot and Nandi water pot"></a></div>
<blockquote>
<p> Here are three more Nandi water pots in different configurations and types of metal, as well as
what I found out later were vessels for ghee, as explained in the next section.</p></blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="179" colspan="2"><br>
<div align="center"><a href="teapots/mt32.JPG"><img src="teapots/mt32r.JPG" width="150" height="145" alt="Cow headed ghee pot for use in temple"></a>
<a href="moremv/mt6.jpg"><img src="moremv/mt6r.jpg" width="141" height="145" hspace="5" alt="Brass ghee cow"
<a href="teapots/butterpots.JPG"><img src="teapots/butterpotsr.JPG" width="210" height="145" alt="Four Indian cow headed ghee pots"></a>
</div>
<blockquote>
<p>I had thought that all these bull or cow shaped Hindu ritual vessels were models of Shiva’s bull,
used for holy water. Then the large and rather plain oval bodied ‘cow’ on the left arrived, from a US
seller. It contained a small leaflet entitled “Butter pot” that said “In India, the cow is believed
to be “close to God” and can fulfill dreams and desires. This brass cow’s head kettle is used to hold
the clarified butter, called Ghee, which fuels the holy flame that is kept lit at all time in Hindu
Temples”. As it turns out I had a few others of similar size and shape that I now believe to be
other versions of ‘cows’ not bulls, used for Ghee. They certainly are of a different shape and
character than the holy water nandis…but nonetheless because of their use in Hindu temples I believe
they belong in this part of the collection </p></blockquote>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="179"><a href="teapots/Mt37.JPG"><img src="teapots/Mt37r.jpg" width="200" height="175" alt="Nandi holy water pot pours through horns"></a></td>
<td height="179">
<p>Straight from Ahmendabad in Gujarat, India comes this lovely brass (so said the seller) standing
nandi. Very different in shape and structure from my others, it is nonetheless designed for
holding and dispensing holy water…not through the mouth which has no hole, but rather through the
hollow horns. I don’t know if this has any ritual significance, but from my perspective it certainly
qualifies for the collection. </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><div align="center">
<a href="moremv/mt38.jpg"><img src="moremv/mt38r.jpg" width="165" height="145" alt="Nandi holy water pot pours through horns" ></a></div></td>
<td>
<p>Here is a similar but smaller and somewhat less well crafted horn-pouring nandi. He looks a bit
dejected, but is nevertheless very cute. It’s interesting that after several years of collecting and
finding none of these, I bought this and the one above just a month or so apart. This one had a very
important feature – it cost 99 cents (plus something like 14x that for shipping)</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>
<div align="center"><a href="teapots/OM129.JPG"><img src="teapots/OM129.JPG" width="100" height="200" alt="Shivling Holy Water Cow Face Cone"></a></div>
</td>
<td>
<p>Yet another variant – a copper “Shivling Holy Water Cow Face Cone” according to the London-based
seller. The add for it on eBay stated: ““All our Spiritual Products Are Spiritually activated With
Mantras & Puja’s also known as Abhisheka by our Panditji Priest without any extra charges. Ideal to
hang in temple over Shiva Linga – very auspicious to do Shiva Pooja” Naturally this sent me to
Wikipedia where I learned first that “Abhisheka, also called Abhishekam, is conducted by priests, by
pouring libations on the image of the deity being worshipped, amidst the chanting of mantras.
Usually, offerings such as milk, yogurt, ghee, honey, Panchaamrutam, sesame oil, rosewater,
sandalwood paste may be poured among other offerings depending on the type of abhishekam being
performed. This ritual is routinely performed in some Hindu and Jain temples. "Rudraabhisheka"
(Abhisheka of Rudra) is performed on Shiva lingams.” Seeking further, I also found out that “A pandit
or pundit is a scholar and a teacher, particularly one skilled in the Sanskrit language, who has
mastered the four Vedic scriptures, Hindu rituals, Hindu law, religion, music, and/or philosophy
under a Guru in a Gurukul or has been tutored under the ancient Vedic Guru-Shishya academic
tradition. The English loan word pundit is derived from it.” </p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td height="179"><a href="teapots/img5213.JPG"><img src="teapots/img5213r.JPG" width="200" height="137" alt="Three open top Nandi vessels"></a></td>
<td height="179">
<p>Finally, here are three open-topped Nandis – the largest and smallest came from Sunil Arts & Engg Works in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India, and the silver colored one from a seller in the US who
presumably brought it back as a souvenir. The well crafted tiny copper Nandi was said to be 70-80
years old, and used in temples. The largest one, with a stand under its chin and with internal
ridges, was sold to me as a pot or ‘ash tray’ (which I doubt), but I have also seen an identical one
described on eBay as a Kharal, which is essentially a mortar for grinding opium and making ‘opium
water’ which is then taken through the bull’s mouth. Perhaps some kind Hindu can enlighten me – I can
only say that I’m learning, slowly, that holy cows and bulls from India can have many manifestations
and uses.</p>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="2"> </td>
</tr>
</table>
<p> </p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<div id="footer">
<div align="center">Contact: [email protected]
<div>Copyright © 2024 Craig's Cow Creamers <br>