06-03-2017, 04:47 PM
Looking at the Deskford object, a couple of observations could be made in relation to the terracotta draco image.
Firstly, the Deskford object is incomplete, so we cannot tell whether or not a further section with a ferrule for a shaft might originally have adjoined the surviving piece.
Secondly, the Deskford object appears to have sustained some damage around the mouth, so may originally have looked more closed than it does now. I am not sure how big the terracotta tablet is, but I would imagine it would also be quite hard to accurately depict a narrowly open mouth in clay.
Added to that, I certainly see what you mean about windsocks, and if the objects depicted on the Bayeaux Tapestry are intended to be dracos they certainly lack anything resembling windsocks. However, the draco depicted on the terracotta appears to have a horn shaped section curving back under it, which could potentially act to reverberate sound, not forgetting the Deskford item's wooden tongue, which does not make much sense for a wind instrument blown by the human mouth (lung power would have to work extremely hard to be able to move a wooden tongue even slightly) but would quite possibly produce a clapping/clanging noise as it hit against the bronze 'palate' of the head when being carried by someone riding a cantering horse. I wonder too if the eyes or the Deskford piece were originally filled, or whether they might have played a role in allowing air and/or sound to emerge from the head.
I am quite happy to accept that the apparent windsock on the terracotta image might be a streamer.
Crispvs
Firstly, the Deskford object is incomplete, so we cannot tell whether or not a further section with a ferrule for a shaft might originally have adjoined the surviving piece.
Secondly, the Deskford object appears to have sustained some damage around the mouth, so may originally have looked more closed than it does now. I am not sure how big the terracotta tablet is, but I would imagine it would also be quite hard to accurately depict a narrowly open mouth in clay.
Added to that, I certainly see what you mean about windsocks, and if the objects depicted on the Bayeaux Tapestry are intended to be dracos they certainly lack anything resembling windsocks. However, the draco depicted on the terracotta appears to have a horn shaped section curving back under it, which could potentially act to reverberate sound, not forgetting the Deskford item's wooden tongue, which does not make much sense for a wind instrument blown by the human mouth (lung power would have to work extremely hard to be able to move a wooden tongue even slightly) but would quite possibly produce a clapping/clanging noise as it hit against the bronze 'palate' of the head when being carried by someone riding a cantering horse. I wonder too if the eyes or the Deskford piece were originally filled, or whether they might have played a role in allowing air and/or sound to emerge from the head.
I am quite happy to accept that the apparent windsock on the terracotta image might be a streamer.
Crispvs
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