Ancient Terracotta Oenochoe (Wine Jug), Roman North Africa (3197A-UOM) $275

Description

Oenochoe, the Greek word for wine vessel or jug, is a category of ancient Greek pottery with different variants. Copied and modified by ancient cultures, this earthenware pouring-vessel was made in a Roman-Empire pottery center in the Roman-North-Africa territory called Africa-Proconsulares and exported other areas of the Empire. Made using a potter’s wheel and covered with a slip, they were highly decorated for the rich or plain functional items like this one called coarse wares  for the lower clsses. The Greeks, Corinthians and  Romans created them as painted  pottery with complex imagery or in metal for the rich. Large stone examples with carved relief designs were  also used as grave markers. The body taper inward as it rises and is unadorned with the exception of horizontal ribbing and a slip. It was  made using a potter’s wheel. Thick for durability, the curved single handle is attached from the rim to halfway down the body and was made for comfort in handling and pouring. In very good condition, intact and without restoration, it has expected mineral and earth adhesions, minor slip losses and some darkening on its surface.