Terracotta lead-glazed scyphus (drinking cup)

Unknown

1st half of 1st century CE · Terracotta · Greek and Roman Art

Mold-made body, with applied handles. Pale green exterior and yellow-brown interior. Vertical, rounded rim, with flaring band below on interior, forming horizontal ridge; convex-curving side, tapering to flaring base ring; flat base; two ring handles on upper body, with round stud at top and outward angular projection at bottom; above each ring, horizontal thumb-rest, flaring to straight ends and flanked by volutes and finials. Decoration: matching pattern in relief on both sides; two vine tendrils with leaves and bunches of grapes, facing inward; at center, above ends of vines, a rosette with a central dot and eight pointed petals; tendrils hang from a large, vertical ribbon, round at bottom, whose top is concealed by the handle. Above decoration, two horizontal grooves; below, a raised horizontal line. Groove on bottom of base ring; raised circle around edge of base. Most of one ring handle missing, but body intact. A jagged knob is attached to the interior near the bottom, which with two other spots form a triangle, indicating a kiln spacer tripod was placed inside the cup during firing.

Artist

Unknown

Date

1st half of 1st century CE

Medium

Terracotta

Culture

Roman

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

The Cesnola Collection, Purchased by subscription, 1874–76