Collection Item

From:UC Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities

Name/TitleJug

About this objectOnly the body of this jug was found in a Bronze Age tomb in northern Cyprus. It is made of a finely mixed clay with a rich red slip over the surface. The body is ovoid, with a small rounded base. There are small knobs of clay placed on either side of where the handle would have attached. It is likely that the neck would have been long and narrow, and also decorated with small knobs of clay, similar to others found in the same tomb.

The jug is classified as Red Polished III, which is a style of pottery decoration introduced to Cyprus in the early Bronze Age (ca. 2450-2250 BC). This style was a significant change in the lineage of ceramic ware decoration on the island. This pottery was always handmade. The completed pot was coated with a mixture of liquid clay and this was then polished to give the work its important smooth finish. The amount of iron oxide in the clay (which was responsible for the depth of red colour) combined with different incised patterns allowed for a variety of decorations to be applied.

Date Madeca. 21st Century BC

PeriodEarly Cypriote

Place MadeCyprus

Place NotesExcavated from Karmi - Lapatsa tomb 11

Medium and MaterialsCeramic: Pottery

Style and IconographyCypriote

Style and IconographyRed polished III

TechniqueModeling (forming)

TechniqueGlazing (coating process)

TechniqueSlab method (pottery technique)

MeasurementsDiameter ca. 207mm

Subject and Association KeywordsMourning customs

Subject and Association KeywordsFood history

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 number138.73

Copyright LicenceAll rights reserved