[Illustration: Fig. 132. Vase with upright handles and winged lip--½.] In Fig. 131 I present a fine example of the horizontal loop, in which the opposite ends are supported by grotesque animal figures, applied, however, in a way not detrimental to the grace and simplicity of the vessel. An example shown in Fig. 132 is of especial interest in this connection. The ornament upon the handle serves as a link between the realistic life form and the conventional nodes and fillets. In this case the node is supplied with eyes and a mouth, and the double roll of clay beneath is manifestly intended for the arms, the handle itself standing for the body. The loop is upright and joins the shoulder to the rim. The winged character produced by the expansion at the contact of handle and lip is shown to advantage in the top view (Fig. 133.) In some cases this expansion is so great as completely to hide the body of the vase when viewed from above. [Illustration: Fig. 133. Top view of vase with winged lip--½.] [Illustration: Fig. 134. Vase with grotesque animal shaped handles--½.] Examples are outlined in Figs. 134 and 135 in which the life form is clearly defined. In the first we have a human-like figure, the face of which is entirely hidden by the hands. In the second we observe a curious little animal figure, with a long curved proboscis and a body covered with annular indentations. In general shape and in ornamentation these vases do not differ from the preceding. A remarkable piece, with two pairs of handles, is presented in Fig. 136. Grotesque figures are attached to the outer surface of the loops, one in each pair being placed in an inverted position. The two figures seen in the cut are simple, but those on the opposite pair of handles are compound, being double above the waist. The faces, hands, and feet of these figures are touched with red, and the lip and body of the vase are decorated with carelessly drawn stripes of red. In another case four plain handles are placed equidistantly about the neck of the vessel. [Illustration: Fig. 135. Vase with handles representing strange animals--½.] [Illustration: Fig. 136. Vase with two pairs of handles ornamented with grotesque figures--½.] In a third variety the loop is omitted entirely, the animal figure taking its place upon the shoulder of the vase. This feature appears in the specimen given in Fig. 137 and represents the front part of a reptile, the head being hollow and containing a large movable pellet. This is a handsome piece, well finished, and decorated in the usual broad way. [Illustration: Fig. 137. Vase with handles representing animal heads, which are hollow and contain pellets of clay--½.] [Illustration: Fig. 138. Vase with arched handles embellished with life forms in high relief--½.]