Ancient Cypriot Red Slip Ware Bottle | Cypro-Archaic | Circa 750–600 BCE
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Ancient Cypriot Red Slip Ware Bottle | Cypro-Archaic | Circa 750–600 BCE
Description
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Historical Context & Origin
Region: Cyprus
Material: Terracotta with surviving red slip
Period: Cypro-Archaic Period, circa 750–600 BCE
Description
This ancient Cypriot Red Slip ware bottle dates to the Cypro-Archaic period, circa 750–600 BCE.
The vessel has a compact globular body with rounded shoulders, rising to a short neck with a small circular opening. Its simple, well-balanced profile is characteristic of small Cypriot ceramic containers of the period.
A broken stump of an applied element survives on the shoulder. Because only the attachment remains, the precise original form and function of this element cannot now be determined with certainty.
Areas of the vessel retain its original red slip, although much of the surface has been altered by age, abrasion, and pale mineral encrustation. These archaeological deposits contrast with the surviving reddish surface and emphasize the vessel's considerable antiquity.
Features
- Small globular body
- Rounded shoulder
- Short neck
- Small circular opening
- Broken stump of an applied shoulder element
- Surviving ancient red slip
- Pale mineral encrustation
- Archaeological surface wear and minor chips
Cultural Significance
Cyprus developed distinctive ceramic traditions during the Iron Age and Cypro-Archaic periods, producing vessels in a variety of shapes and surface treatments for domestic, funerary, and other uses.
Red Slip ware is characterized by its reddish surface treatment, which gave otherwise utilitarian ceramic forms a more finished appearance. Small bottles such as this could have served for the storage or dispensing of liquids or other valued substances, although the precise original contents and use of this example cannot be established without archaeological context.
The vessel provides a tangible example of Cypro-Archaic ceramic production during the 8th–7th centuries BCE.
Condition
Ancient condition with substantial age-related wear. The red slip survives only partially, with areas of abrasion, pale mineral encrustation, surface deposits, and scattered small chips.
An applied element on the shoulder is broken and survives only as a stump. The globular body, short neck, and small opening remain substantially intact.
Dimensions (Approximate)
Height: 3.25 in
Diameter: 3.25 in
Age (Approximate)
2,600–2,800 years old
Provenance
Formerly in the collection of Jack Guevrekian, Manhasset, New York, a noted New York numismatist and collector with a particular interest in Armenian coinage, antiquities, and ancient material. Guevrekian assembled an extensive collection over several decades, a significant portion of which was publicly offered as The Jack Guevrekian Collection by the Numismatic & Antiquarian Service Corporation of America in New York in 1977.
Subsequently held in a private New York City collection.
Later handled by the Howard S. Rose Gallery / Arte Primitivo in New York, a longstanding specialist gallery and auction house dealing in Pre-Columbian, Classical, Egyptian, Asian, and ethnographic antiquities and works of art. The gallery has conducted specialist auctions, exhibitions, and private sales from its New York premises.
Subsequently handled by Artemis Fine Arts / Artemis Gallery, a Colorado-based specialist in antiquities, ancient art, ethnographic material, and fine art that has been active in the field since 1993. Then entered a private collection in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Expert Assessment: Examined by Luca Salvaggio, an Italian archaeologist specializing in ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern material, with a Postgraduate Diploma from the Italian Archaeological School at Athens (IASA) and accreditation from the Italian Ministry of Culture (MiC). He identified the vessel as a Cypriot Red Slip ware bottle dating to the Cypro-Archaic period, circa 750–600 BCE, based on its small globular body, rounded shoulder, short neck, small opening, surviving red slip, and broken stump of an applied shoulder element.
Learn More
Explore a related Cypro-Archaic red-slipped pottery vessel in the collection of the British Museum.
Browse our collection of Ceramics & Pottery: Ancient Heritage Art.
Description
Historical Context & Origin
Region: Cyprus
Material: Terracotta with surviving red slip
Period: Cypro-Archaic Period, circa 750–600 BCE
Description
This ancient Cypriot Red Slip ware bottle dates to the Cypro-Archaic period, circa 750–600 BCE.
The vessel has a compact globular body with rounded shoulders, rising to a short neck with a small circular opening. Its simple, well-balanced profile is characteristic of small Cypriot ceramic containers of the period.
A broken stump of an applied element survives on the shoulder. Because only the attachment remains, the precise original form and function of this element cannot now be determined with certainty.
Areas of the vessel retain its original red slip, although much of the surface has been altered by age, abrasion, and pale mineral encrustation. These archaeological deposits contrast with the surviving reddish surface and emphasize the vessel's considerable antiquity.
Features
- Small globular body
- Rounded shoulder
- Short neck
- Small circular opening
- Broken stump of an applied shoulder element
- Surviving ancient red slip
- Pale mineral encrustation
- Archaeological surface wear and minor chips
Cultural Significance
Cyprus developed distinctive ceramic traditions during the Iron Age and Cypro-Archaic periods, producing vessels in a variety of shapes and surface treatments for domestic, funerary, and other uses.
Red Slip ware is characterized by its reddish surface treatment, which gave otherwise utilitarian ceramic forms a more finished appearance. Small bottles such as this could have served for the storage or dispensing of liquids or other valued substances, although the precise original contents and use of this example cannot be established without archaeological context.
The vessel provides a tangible example of Cypro-Archaic ceramic production during the 8th–7th centuries BCE.
Condition
Ancient condition with substantial age-related wear. The red slip survives only partially, with areas of abrasion, pale mineral encrustation, surface deposits, and scattered small chips.
An applied element on the shoulder is broken and survives only as a stump. The globular body, short neck, and small opening remain substantially intact.
Dimensions (Approximate)
Height: 3.25 in
Diameter: 3.25 in
Age (Approximate)
2,600–2,800 years old
Provenance
Formerly in the collection of Jack Guevrekian, Manhasset, New York, a noted New York numismatist and collector with a particular interest in Armenian coinage, antiquities, and ancient material. Guevrekian assembled an extensive collection over several decades, a significant portion of which was publicly offered as The Jack Guevrekian Collection by the Numismatic & Antiquarian Service Corporation of America in New York in 1977.
Subsequently held in a private New York City collection.
Later handled by the Howard S. Rose Gallery / Arte Primitivo in New York, a longstanding specialist gallery and auction house dealing in Pre-Columbian, Classical, Egyptian, Asian, and ethnographic antiquities and works of art. The gallery has conducted specialist auctions, exhibitions, and private sales from its New York premises.
Subsequently handled by Artemis Fine Arts / Artemis Gallery, a Colorado-based specialist in antiquities, ancient art, ethnographic material, and fine art that has been active in the field since 1993. Then entered a private collection in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Expert Assessment: Examined by Luca Salvaggio, an Italian archaeologist specializing in ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern material, with a Postgraduate Diploma from the Italian Archaeological School at Athens (IASA) and accreditation from the Italian Ministry of Culture (MiC). He identified the vessel as a Cypriot Red Slip ware bottle dating to the Cypro-Archaic period, circa 750–600 BCE, based on its small globular body, rounded shoulder, short neck, small opening, surviving red slip, and broken stump of an applied shoulder element.
Learn More
Explore a related Cypro-Archaic red-slipped pottery vessel in the collection of the British Museum.
Browse our collection of Ceramics & Pottery: Ancient Heritage Art.
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