Greek black-glaze guttus, South Italy, c.4th century BC
Terracotta
Height: 9.7cm, diameter: 11cm, width including the handle: 13.6cm
10336
The ribbed body has a trumpet-shaped spout, with thickened lip, set at right angles to the small ring-handle. The top is decorated by the moulded image of a forward-facing siren,...
The ribbed body has a trumpet-shaped spout, with thickened lip, set at right angles to the small ring-handle. The top is decorated by the moulded image of a forward-facing siren, her elegant, upraised wings curling inwards, a diadem upon her head, scrolling tendrils filling the background. The vessel is set on a ring base with moulded outer edge, the cushioned underside reserved, with a red wash and with some splattering of the black slip, including a fingerprint. A small segment of the foot reattached. Some touching-in to the glaze
The askos (pl. askoi) contained expensive liquids, as indicated by the small size and two main features: its overarching handle or ring handle, and a narrow neck with wide mouth. Ring askoi are a subdivision of this category, and generally had deep bodies with a narrow central tube which ran vertically through the vessel. However, much rarer examples have a wider, doughnut-shaped body. The guttus (pl. gutti) can be considered a sub-type of the askos shape; its low body had a spout positioned on the top of the shoulder and slightly inset. The guttus derives its name from the Latin word gutta, meaning to drop. It is no surprise therefore that these vessels were used to pour very small amounts of liquid from the distinctive spout. The kinds of liquids believed to have required a drop-by-drop pouring technique are oil, honey and perfume.
The askos (pl. askoi) contained expensive liquids, as indicated by the small size and two main features: its overarching handle or ring handle, and a narrow neck with wide mouth. Ring askoi are a subdivision of this category, and generally had deep bodies with a narrow central tube which ran vertically through the vessel. However, much rarer examples have a wider, doughnut-shaped body. The guttus (pl. gutti) can be considered a sub-type of the askos shape; its low body had a spout positioned on the top of the shoulder and slightly inset. The guttus derives its name from the Latin word gutta, meaning to drop. It is no surprise therefore that these vessels were used to pour very small amounts of liquid from the distinctive spout. The kinds of liquids believed to have required a drop-by-drop pouring technique are oil, honey and perfume.