368 A History of Art in Ancient Egypt. by numerous vessels from the most ancient tombs in the Memphite necropolis ; they are of a reddish or yellowish colour, and, in spite of the absence of all glaze, they hold water perfectly well. Like Greek vessels of the same kind they have sometimes three ears or handles (Fig. 291). Examples of coupled vessels, like those found in Cyprus, have also been discovered. They communicate with one another by a tube and are kept together by a common Fig. 291. — Pitcher of red earth. British Museum. handle (Fig. 292). Of all the representative specimens of earthen- ware from the mastabas given by Lepsius, there is but one which does not seem to belong to the category of domestic pottery. It is a kind of aryballus, and is gracefully ornamented with inter- lacing circles.^ In later times many of these unglazed vases were decorated with the brush, but they were not remitted to the oven after that operation. ^ The colour was therefore without lustre or solidity, and the designs were always very simple. To this ^ Lepsius, Denknuelcr, part ii. pi. 153. ^ Birch, Ancieiit Pottery, p. 37.
