Collection Item

From:UC Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities

Name/TitleOinochoe

About this objectOinochoe came from the Greek terms οἶνος (oinos), meaning "wine", and χέω (khéō), meaning "I pour" which accurately describes their function, to pour wine.

This type of small jug was common in Southern Italy in the 4th century BCE, with many coming from the workshop of the Truro Painter in Apulia (Puglia). Although it cannot be confirmed if this vase is from this workshop, it is very similar in style and decoration.

The body of the vase is decorated with the image of a slave mask used in theatre, bordered by stylised leaf designs. The lustrous black glaze covering the body makes the images stand out, especially with the clever use of clear space around the black hair of the mask. The bristly, unkempt hair is a signature of the slave mask, and makes it stand out on vase painting from the master, who was much neater and 'proper'. This development was needed on vase depictions, as the colour variations seen on stage were difficult (and likely expensive) to recreate clearly.

The slave mask came to represent comedy in the popular imagination from the 4th century BC onwards, as the slave seems to have been a favourite character in comedy at this time. In part this may have been because, as non-citizens, they could get up to all sorts of mischief outside the bounds of proper behaviour, which makes it a fitting design for a vessel used in the serving of wine.

Date Madeca. 350 BCE

Place MadeItaly; Apulia

Medium and MaterialsCeramic: Pottery

Style and IconographyApulian

Style and IconographyRed-figure

TechniqueThrowing (pottery technique)

TechniqueRed-figure vase painting

TechniqueSlip trailing (relief line)

MeasurementsHeight 88mm; Diameter 66mm

Subject and Association KeywordsTheatre in art

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

Credit LineGifted by Marion K. Steven

Object TypeFood Service Vessels

Object number117.71

Copyright LicenceAll rights reserved