Ever since Cycladic art of the third millennium B.C. began to be known early in the twentieth century, it has stood out among the creations of prehistoric cultures. Most noteworthy are the figures and vessels carved in the local white marble. The masterful control of the material and the harmonious proportions manifest a level of artistic achievement that seems inconceivable at such an early date.

Cycladic marble vessels like this one are marvels of execution. The work was long on loan to the Museum from a devoted friend, Christos G. Bastis. The spouted bowl is distinguished by its unusually large size, the thinness of its walls, and the delicate articulation of the spout in the front and the horizontal lug in the back. It stands securely but also fits the hand perfectly for pouring water, oil, or perhaps even paint, since traces of color remain on some of the forty preserved examples. The mystery of these vessels is compounded by the fact that clay and, to a limited extent, metals (silver and gold) were used contemporaneously for receptacles. There can be little doubt that the choice of marble and the labor it required contributed to the meaning of the object.