Cypriot Poppy Head Flask

With trumpet-shaped foot, piriform body, rounded shoulder, broad neck and flared rim, two lateral strap handles, circumferential painted bands. 374 grams, 14.5 cm high



From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.

With strap handle positioned over the central hole; black-figure decoration with fired umber (reddish-brown) consisting of a broad band heightened with crimson and white round the upper part of the wall, and a wavy band on the reversed area below; broad band of black (fired umber) inside the ring and around the neck below the spout; groups of transverse lines with faded petals around the top, horizontal lines across the handle; intact. 349 grams, 16.5 cm



Acquired from Charles Ede Gallery, London, in 1982. Prominent Palm Springs, California, USA, collection. with Artemis Gallery, Colorado, USA, 14 July 2012, lot 30 (US$2,500-3,000). Property of a South Australian private collector, with collection reference 14.08. Accompanied by detailed collector's catalogue pages including description and photograph.

Etrusco-Corinthian pottery is a local imitation of Corinthian pottery, made from the late seventh to the mid-sixth century B.C., with production concentrated on the southern Etruscan cities of Caere, Veii and Vulci. The forms predominately employed include various forms of jug (olpai, oinochoe) and unguent containers (aryballoi and alabastra) as well as amphorae and craters. The askos is the name given in modern parlance to a type of Greek pottery vessel used to pour small quantities of liquids such as oil. It is recognisable from its flat shape and a spout at one or both ends that could also be used as a handle; they were usually painted decoratively like vases and were mainly used for storing oil and refilling oil lamps. They were extensively traded in and around the Mediterranean, and local types emerge in Italy from the early Iron Age in Italy (cf. CVA Taranto – Museo Nazionale I, pl. 1.1 (Inv. 2400) – refer photo at 14.08 – 3); also CVA British Museum 7, pl. 4.4). The original meaning of ἀσκός is “wineskin” which can be seen in the shapes of early askoi. This askos has unique painted decoration for which a parallel has not been found to date. For an earlier variant of this type, see CVA Tarquinia – Museo Archeologico Nazionale III, pl. 27.7-8 (Inv. RC. 1892). Described as 'Italo- Geometric' and dated to third quarter of the seventh century; askos is 10.2cm high, 11.5cm diameter; dark brown paint. Neck is longer than on Inv.14.08, and different decorations, but otherwise an early parallel (refer photos at 14.08 – 4 & 5). Another variant of this type can be seen in CVA Museo Civico d’Archeologia Ligure di Genova, I, pl. 1.2-3 (Inv. 1101). Described as Italo-Corinthian but undated, askos is 11.0cm high 11.5cm diameter; neck is longer than on Inv.14.06, with handle not curving, and different decorations (see photos 14.08 – 6; 7). The groups of horizontal line decoration can be seen on earlier types, cf. late eighth to early seventh century footed cup in the Museo Archeologico della Maremma (CVA Grosetto Museo Archeologico I, pl. 26.3 (Inv. 24294)). See askos at the Museo Nazionale di Villa Giulia from the Polledrara necropolis at Vulci, dated to 625–600BC (refer photo at 14.08 – 8).

Wheel-made amphora with narrow basal ring, two broad loop handles to the shoulder, tubular mouth with strap handle to the rear; horizontal black painted bands to the neck, shoulder and body; painted handles; cracked. 3 kg, 38 cm



From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.