Painted Pyxis

Painted Pyxis

circa 380-325 BCE

Unknown

Greek or Native Italian (Messapian?)

Discovery Site: Craco, Matera, Basilicata, Italy

Repository: Museum of Classical Antiquities, University of Ottawa / Musée d'antiquités gréco-romaines, Université d'Ottawa

containers|decorative art

Materials/Techniques: terracotta (clay material), painted in black glaze

Measurements: 4.9 cm high, 8.65 cm diameter

Small storage box for cosmetics, trinkets or jewelry. Black-glaze decoration on red ground; decorative friezes and solid horizontal bands encircle the exterior wall of lid; in the upper zone, an ogive pattern, beneath which is a narrow horizontal band; in the lower zone, a frieze of continuous spirals, beneath which is a thicker horizontal band; a series of concentric friezes adorn the top of the lid; around the exterior (top to bottom) is frieze of tongues, followed by a solid band, and a frieze of continuous spirals; the center was originally painted black, but is discoloured as are other portions of the top as a result of misfiring. Since the wall of the lid is fused to the jar, only the portion where the lid is missing is visible, and appears reddish in colour. Presumably, it was painted black. Its reddish colour may be the result of misfiring or damage to the surface.

pyxides; containers; equipment for personal use: grooming, hygiene and health care

Repository Accession Number: 980.3.1.A (body); 980.3.1.B (lid)

Record: UO-MCA-980-3-1-A (body); UO-MCA-980-3-1-B (lid)

Cataloguer: Lindsay MacMillan, University of Ottawa

Photographer: Mélissa Mourez, University of Ottawa.

Image Date: 2018-07-18

The images are provided by the Museum of Classical Antiquities, University of Ottawa. For contact information, visit the Museum website: https://arts.uottawa.ca/cla-srs/en/museum | Les images sont fournies par le Musée d'antiquités gréco-romaines de l'Université d’Ottawa. Visitez le site du musée pour les coordonnées : https://arts.uottawa.ca/cla-srs/fr/musee