Terracotta lead-glazed scyphus (drinking cup)

Mold-made body, with applied handles. Pale green exterior and yellow-brown interior.

Vertical rim, with narrow, flaring lip and concave, narrow band below on exterior; convex-curving side; slightly flaring base ring; broad, flat base; small, raised center on interior of bottom; two ring handles on upper body, with projecting supports below; above each ring, thumb-rest, slanting upward and flanked by finials.

Decoration: matching pattern in high relief on both sides; two confronted sprays: at left, vine or sycamore leaves; at right, ivy leaves and berries; all issuing from ties at top of sides, concealed by the handle. Above decoration, narrow band of ovules. Raised circle on inner edge of base ring; raised circle towards center of base. On upper surface of handles: in the middle two raised ridges run across top, with three bud-like knobs at the end; the finials are shaped as birds' heads.

Intact, but one long firing crack across bottom.

Lead-glazed cup with floral sprays in relief made at Tarsus in Cilicia (southern Asia Minor).