Note on Etruscan Architectural Terracottas

Abstract

IN the preceding pages, which, through the courtesy of the Editor of the JOURNAL, I was able to read in proof, Mrs. Van Buren has ably discussed the chronology of the revetments from Etruria, published by Mr. Leicester B. Holland and myself. While we are aware of the general principles involved in assigning dates to these terracottas, the principle to which we tried to adhere was based, perhaps too largely, on the presence or absence of similar palmette-lotus ornamentation on Greek vases, with due allowance for the later date of the Etruscan type. We believe firmly in the development of the designs one from the other, as worked out in our article; but we realize fully that Mrs. Van Buren has had access to material, about which, in the very nature of things, it was impossible for us to be in possession of full details. We therefore welcome the decision of the latest Italian authorities regarding the dating of these revetments, expecially since immense quantities of unpublished material, the existence of which we could not have ascertained, are available in the Italian museums for comparison with the fragments published by us. The point raised by Mrs. Van Buren about the openwork grill which Mr. Holland and I published in an earlier article is one in which we cannot agree with her. Whatever may be the case with other openwork grills, the one in Philadelphia was undoubtedly meant to be of two thicknesses, set back to back. That it could have had a plain base underneath the decorated base is impossible, since the bottom is the original surface, as a glance at our Figure 1 in that article will show. There are dowel holes on the bottom to attach it to the member below. That it was originally of two thicknesses is proven beyond peradventure by the presence of staples and staple-holes on the upper edges of the petals of the palmettes. We did not mean to imply that the grills were fastened into a round cover tile, although ridge tiles with palmettes attached have been found,' but that they were