Cypriot Ceramic Oinochoe - 19 cm

1. Object Description

The present vessel is an exceptionally well-preserved ancient Cypriot ceramic jug of the Cypro-Archaic period, characterized by a rounded globular body, pronounced cylindrical neck, broad flaring mouth and a substantial arched handle. The body is decorated with a highly characteristic geometric system of narrow and broad horizontal bands combined with conspicuous circular and concentric-circle motifs.

The circular ornament on the upper body, together with the numerous finely drawn horizontal bands, is consistent with the circle style associated with Cypro-Archaic painted wares. The overall effect is both technically disciplined and visually distinctive, and the decoration remains unusually coherent over the vessel.

2. Dating and Cultural Attribution

The form and decorative vocabulary support an attribution to Cypro-Archaic I, broadly dated 750–600 BC. A more specific placement in the 7th century BC is reasonable for the present example, while the exact workshop or regional production centre should not be stated without archaeological context.

A particularly relevant museum parallel is the Walters Art Museum globular Bichrome jug, accession 48.2347 (19.3 cm), dated to Cypro-Archaic I. Its pinched pouring lip, globular profile, and concentric-circle ornament provide a persuasive comparison in both form and decoration.

The LACMA Bichrome Pitcher, M.49.14.23 (25.4 cm), circa 700–600 BC, likewise combines a globular body, trefoil mouth, single handle and concentric-circle motifs, although it is larger and differs in some ornamental details. These are closely comparable examples, not identical pieces.

3. Condition

The vessel is in exceptionally fine condition for an approximately 2,700-year-old ceramic object. The body, neck, mouth, handle and principal painted decoration are preserved to a notably high degree. The unusually complete appearance materially enhances both its aesthetic appeal and collector desirability.

4. Authentication

The object is accompanied by a positive Thermoluminescence (TL) certification. The scientific result provides important supporting evidence for an ancient firing date. The TL result should be read together with the vessel’s morphology, ceramic fabric and decoration; scientific testing alone does not establish provenance or workshop attribution.

5. Provenance

The object is accompanied by unusually interesting documentary provenance. The surviving provenance records among other things a sale on 23 January 1962 to Mr. Peter H. Theelen of Holland. The vase subsequently entered Dutch private ownership.
This documented Cyprus-to-Netherlands chain is a meaningful positive factor when compared with ancient Cypriot ceramics that have no identifiable collecting history.

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