The profile of this olla, or jug, is characterized by
a tall, wide funnel-like mouth, the diameter of
which is equal to the greatest diameter of the
vessel itself when measured around its belly.
Such a vessel is suggested to have been used as
a sphageion for the collection of blood ritually
let during sacrifices. The outside of the mouth is
decorated with floral motifs populated by birds,
its interior by sweeping linear ornament which is
separated by stylized palmette-like motifs. The
body of the vessel itself is decorated with seven
registers of floral motifs, separated the one from
the other by a series of three concentric lines,
with a Greek key, or meander pattern at the top,
and a lively, Hellenistic-style ivy pattern in the
third register. In keeping with vessels of this
classification, there is an interest in the handles
which are loop-shaped and provided with
adjuncts which appear to represent fingers of a
human hand.
Such vessels were created in South Italy in a
region recently designated Iapyges, which
occupies the territory from the “heel” of the
Italian peninsula to as far north as the latitude of
Naples. One of the principal cities of this region
is Canosa, famed for its innovative approach to
both terracotta figurines and pottery vessels,
such as this wonderful example.
Often termed “Daunian ware,” vessels of this type
are only now coming into their own among
serious collectors of ancient art. The profusion of
floral motifs on these examples and their
minimalist palette resonate with contemporary
aesthetic sensibilities and account for the
growing popularity of these vases among
collectors.
References:
Jacques Camay and Chantal Courtois, L’art
premier des Iapyges (Geneva 2002), for the most
recent assessment of this classification of pottery
and in particular pages 122-125, for two
examples which are particularly close to our olla.
- (PF.5372)
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