Cup with zoomorphic handles

Ultima modifica 26 ottobre 2023

The cup is a small open vase with a hemispherical tank.

In this specimen we have a slight workmanship of the body that has circular bands in relief.

The cup is decorated with plastic shape additions on the edge and on the handles that have pairs of small horns and stylized animal head. On the outer side, under the hem, there is a zigzag pattern.
In the lower part we find, a meander pattern (also called Greek) of white color, is perhaps the residual of a mastic glue used to adhere a decoration of metallic lamellae now lost.
On the inner bottom there are two concentric rows of small studs.
It was made with clay modeled with the technique of the "colombino" which involves the creation of long cords of clay rolled one over the other and then smoothed together with wet hands.
The black color of the clay begins to be used for vases in this period, probably thanks to contacts with the Etruscan world. The black dough is called buccheroide because it evokes the Etruscan bucchero while differs for the color of the dough not perfectly black.

Certainly a domestic object for the privileged use of upper classes of the Picen society due to the fine workmanship with which it was modeled.
The cup is part of the rich funeral set of tomb nr 21 that housed a very high-ranking Picen woman. 
Numerous objects of ornament, such as earrings, necklaces, fibulas, pendants and armillae or bracelets. Bone and amber objects, clay vases, some also with fine decorations, others in bucchero, the black-glossy color of the ceramic.
Dating: sixth  century BC