Marble vase with high foot and lug handles

Technical Analysis: Ultraviolet-induced visible luminescence examination


This is a nearly intact collared jar made from white marble with blueish striations with a pedestal foot and four crescent perforated lugs. It has a cylindrical, tampering neck, a wide mouth with a vertical rounded rim on a rather hemispherical body with flat shoulders, that stand on a compact conical foot. The gray-bluish striations of the marble in the area of the rim were used to create a visual effect. The conical foot at its bottom has a small concave hollow and wide standing ring-like edges. The crescent-shaped lugs are carved diametrically, protruding considerably, and pierced, cutting parts of body walls; they are not always placed vertically but they are in rather oblique angles. One is missing and has been restored. The interior has been carved in U shape. Tool marks may be seen there, which have been smoothened, suggesting the use of a bow drill. The outer surfaces are smoothened. Its large size is within the range of this vessel type as discussed by Pat Getz–Gentle.(1) Its closest parallel comes from the Panagia cemetery on Paros.(2) In the Stern Collection of Cycladic Art, L.2022.38.38, 36, and 72 are of similar size.


The top rim and the outer edge of the foot are significantly eroded and one of the lug handles has been largely restored. To the left of the restored handle, there is a conspicuously shiny and light-colored vertical zone that runs down to the foot. Since there does not appear to be a loss of stone in this area, it is possible that a coating was applied to saturate a heavily etched surface in this area. Further to the left and beyond the next lug handle, there is an oval-shaped patch of roughened stone in the lower area of the body. Root marks are found on the surface overall and the interior retains what appears to be light brown burial dirt.


Georgios Gavalas and J-F de Lapérouse


(1) Getz-Gentle, Pat, 1996. The Stone Vessels of the Cyclades in the Early Bronze Age, The Pennsylvania State University Press, pp. 5-39.

(2) See Getz-Gentle 1996, A21 (National Archaeological Museum, Athens inv. no. 4791), from Panagia cemetery Paros T71, p. 240, pl. 14d. See also Ramstorf 2000. Kykladen I, Die fruehe Bronzenzeit Grab und Siedlungsbefuende, (Bonn), p. 26, Tafel 10.1, 142.2-4.