Collection Item

From:UC Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities

Name/TitleGeometric Flask

About this objectThis geometric flask is from Cyprus. Small containers like this are often associated with the production and use of perfumes and scented oils.

There is a crack in the body of the flask from firing, but it is overall in good condition. The neck is thin with a flaring, funnel shaped mouth, and the two handles arch from the base of the neck to the widest point of the body. The bowl of the flask is a slightly flattened sphere, coming to a slight point in the centre of each side. Around each point is a concentric circle design done in many fine lines, with a central dot, and enclosed by a thick band. Around the body on each side of the handles are four concentric lines. Between these lines an inverted V extends from the base of the handles, bordering a striped triangular pendant shape. The decoration is painted in matt black over a hard orange-red slip.

The body has been highly polished but the handles and the mouth have not. The handles have black bands down the edges and a ladder pattern on the outer face. There is a wide band around the mouth and the middle of the neck, with fine bands between. A narrow band runs around the ridge on the neck where the handles attach, and at the root of the handles is a wavy line, with another narrow band at the base of the neck.

Date Made8th Century BC

PeriodIron Age

Place MadeCyprus

Medium and MaterialsCeramic: Pottery

Style and IconographyCypro-Phoenician

Style and IconographyCypro-Geometric

Style and IconographyGeometric patterns

TechniqueThrowing (pottery technique)

TechniquePolychromy

MeasurementsHeight 128mm; Width 80mm (of body)

Subject and Association KeywordsCosmetics

Subject and Association KeywordsPersonal beauty

Named CollectionThe James Logie Memorial Collection, University of Canterbury, New Zealand

Credit LineDonated by the Christchurch Classical Association, 1953. Formerly in the collection of James H Rea.

Object TypeFlasks

Object number14.53

Copyright LicenceAll rights reserved