Lentoid flask, 11th century b.c.
Levantine
Bichrome Ware
Terracotta; H. 10 5/8 in. (27 cm)
The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874-76 (74.51.431)
Technical Glossary
Levantine
Bichrome Ware
Terracotta; H. 10 5/8 in. (27 cm)
The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874-76 (74.51.431)
Images of goats, birds, trees, and other plants decorate both sides of this lentoid flask. Of particular note is the skeletal character of the birds' wings, which provides a noteworthy antecedent to painted decorations on Cypro-Archaic vases. The origin of this lentoid flask has been the subject of much discussion. The vessel's fabric, burnishing technique, and the paint in two distinct colors—black and red—have strong parallels in Levantine pottery of the eleventh century B.C. Indeed, it is probably one of the earliest Phoenician vases imported into Cyprus.
