Collection Item

From:UC Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities

Name/TitleJug

About this objectThis large Bronze Age jug is an example of Red Polished III ware, and was discovered in a tomb at Lapatsa in the north of Cyprus.

The jug has been reconstructed from fragments, and the body has separated from the neck and shoulder. When whole, the jug has an ovoid body with a small round base in the same contour as the body. There was a hint of a point at the bottom of the vase, with the walls thickening towards the base. The jug has a tall narrow neck that tapers to a round horizontal mouth with an outwards turned rim. The long neck means the jug would have been suitable for storing liquids, and the small vertical handle curving from the lower neck to the shoulder could have helped with pouring.

The separation of the body from the neck has allowed us to see the method the potter used to attach the handle to the body. A plug of clay extending from the end of the handle was fitted into a hole in the body, and sealed.

The jug is made of a brownish-buff clay that has been covered with an orange-brown slip decorated with impressed reliefs. A chain-like relief band runs down the neck, curving under the mouth. A similar band also runs around the shoulder, although part of this applied relief appears to have fallen away from the surface and was not replaced before the application of the slip. The reliefs could be representations of fillets (bands or ribbons) that were tied around vessels during festive occasions. A similar pattern can be seen on JLMC 133.73, another long-necked jug in the collection.

Date Madeca. 21st Century BC

PeriodEarly Cypriote

Place MadeCyprus

Place NotesExcavated from Karmi - Lapatsa tomb 11

Medium and MaterialsCeramic: Pottery

Style and IconographyRed polished III

Style and IconographyCypriote

TechniqueThrowing (pottery technique)

TechniqueImpressed relief (technique)

TechniqueGlazing (coating process)

MeasurementsHeight 608mm (complete); Diameter 344mm

Subject and Association KeywordsMourning customs

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

Credit LineDonated by the Melbourne University Cyprus Expedition, care of Dr J.B. Hennessy, University of Sydney, 1973.

Object TypeStorage Vessels

Object number148.73

Copyright LicenceAll rights reserved