Steatite vase with spout and lugs

Unknown

ca. 2600–1900 BCE · Steatite · Greek and Roman Art

Cup with spout and lugs. Minoan artists crafted vessels from a variety of stones using chisels, hammers, and copper-alloy saws. Finer tools like copper drills with abrasives were employed to hollow out their interiors. These vessels were durable versions of standard terracotta and metal forms, made with such high quality that they were exported throughout the Eastern Mediterranean. Stoneware has been found in settlements, cemeteries, and sanctuaries alike; the smallest examples were likely votive offerings.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 2600–1900 BCE

Medium

Steatite

Culture

Minoan

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Credit line

Bequest of Richard B. Seager, 1926