Greek black glaze oinochoe, Italy, c.4th-3rd century BC
Terracotta
Height including the handle: 14.2cm, diameter: 7.7cm
10438
Further images
The ovoid body with a high shoulder is enlivened with thick indented grooves, set on a collared, spreading foot. A high-arching handle is attached to the back of the long,...
The ovoid body with a high shoulder is enlivened with thick indented grooves, set on a collared, spreading foot. A high-arching handle is attached to the back of the long, open-topped spout, at the base of which are two bosses moulded with human faces. The indented base is reserved and with a red wash. An old paper collection label is attached to the body showing the number ‘9’ in black ink. At the base of the body is a stamped red wax seal, possibly one from the Italian authorities who historically used such seals to mark objects as being approved for exportation. Intact.
The incised lines on this oinochoe are an Italic take on the slightly earlier Attic versions, which have moulded vertical ribs.
The oinochoe (pl. oinochoi) constitutes a very large category of vessels which had many everyday uses, acting as a means for containing and pouring a wide variety of liquids, including oils, wine and water. The shoulder oinochoe has a low foot, a short neck, a low arching handle and most often a trefoil lip. The body has no decoration, though later examples sometimes have ribbed walls. The glaze continues inside the neck of the jug, but the base is always reserved. The earlier examples in this class, which date from the late sixth to early fifth centuries BC, have a more sloping shoulder than those developed around 450BC, where the shoulder is more developed.
The incised lines on this oinochoe are an Italic take on the slightly earlier Attic versions, which have moulded vertical ribs.
The oinochoe (pl. oinochoi) constitutes a very large category of vessels which had many everyday uses, acting as a means for containing and pouring a wide variety of liquids, including oils, wine and water. The shoulder oinochoe has a low foot, a short neck, a low arching handle and most often a trefoil lip. The body has no decoration, though later examples sometimes have ribbed walls. The glaze continues inside the neck of the jug, but the base is always reserved. The earlier examples in this class, which date from the late sixth to early fifth centuries BC, have a more sloping shoulder than those developed around 450BC, where the shoulder is more developed.