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Marble footed cup with spout

Cycladic

ca. 2700–2400/2300 BCE

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 151

Technical Analysis: Ultraviolet-induced visible luminescence examination, optical microscopy

This marble spouted bowl, or sauceboat (kymbe), is intact except for its chipped spout. It consists of a deep ellipsoidal bowl, a long spout and a tall, slender stem with a flared foot. The thin, delicately rendered walls curve up and out toward an ellipsoid mouth with a rounded everted rim. A thin rectangular, horizontal lug is carved opposite the spout for an even pour. The trumpet-shaped foot is hollow with elegant thin edges. This is a very rare type of vase represented throughout the Early Cycladic II period.(1) “Herakleia” islet is mentioned as its find place. Its closest parallel is a vase from Chalandriani on Syros.(2) Another related example has been found on Naxos at Aplomata.(3) Within the Stern Collection of Cycladic Art, L.2022.38.161, .118 and .148 are similar spouted vessels without a foot.

A reddish-brown burial accretion covers the surface and there are areas of wear under the accretion, including the loss at the spout. Three lighter-colored, almond-shaped areas on the proper left side of the cup may be traces of a painted decoration. There may be similar traces near thinner accretions on the proper right side of the cup. Scattered scrapes and abrasions at the handle, spout, around the edges of the foot and on the interior may be recent. A recent chip loss at the edge of the foot has been inpainted with a darker red pigment.

Georgios Gavalas and Lind Borsch

(1) For the combination of a spouted bowl with a tall pedestal discussed as K34, see Getz-Gentle, Pat. 1996, The Stone Vessels of the Cyclades in the Early Bronze Age. pp.162-63 and p. 290, figs. 90f and 92, pls. 91c and 97b, University Park: The Pennsylvania State University Press. (2) Athens National Archaeological Museum inv. no. 5085, Syros Chandriani T327, see Rambach, Jörg. 2000. Kykladen I, Die Frühe Bronzenzeit Grab- und Siedlungsbefunde. Athens NAM 4760, Paros, Glypha Grave 22, p. 106, pls. 44.5 and 146.1, Bonn: R. Habelt. (3) Naxos, Aplomata, Grave 23, see Kontoleon N., Anaskafai Naxou, Praktika tis En Athines Archaeologikis Etaireias, 1972, pl. 138.2.