Olpe

Olpe

Terracotta

A large jug of Corinthian style, copied in Etruria. In this shape there is a flaring neck and mouth. This is separated from the body of the vase by a plastic ring. The body is ovoid with its greatest fullness towards the bottom of the vase and a flanged strap handle passes from the shoulder to the edge of the mouth. On either side of this join is a flat clay disc or rosette. There is a small offset foot. The clay is cream-coloured; it is a painted with orange-red, light cream and a darker added red. Incision is also used for the geometric patterns and animal frieze. The vase has been restored after having been broken into fragments.

Function: this is a type of jug, used for pouring liquids.

Decoration:
A) The exterior and the top part of the interior of the mouth and neck are orange-red. On the exterior are some cream dot rosettes and the plastic collar is decorated with cream dots.
B) The handle is orange-red and the rosettes are decorated with cream dots rosettes.
C) There are four friezes on the body of the vase separated by painted double cream lines with some hatching along the bottom line of the central pair:
1. incised tongues, pairs of which are painted alternately orange-red,cream, dark red, ending in spirals near the handle attachment.
2. a frieze of four incised and painted winged lions and panthers, facing right with cream dot rosettes along the top.
3. incised overlapping semi-circles (drawn with a compass) with double outline, filled with added cream and red plus cream dot rosettes along the top.
4. orange-red rays on reserved clay.
D) The foot is painted orange-red.

Purchased from Christie, Manson & Woods Ltd, London, with funds from the Alumni Association, 1981.

625 - 600 BC

81.008