Cleveland Museum of Art

Heron-Shaped Figure Vase (Oil Vessel)

Robertson's Group

Date

c. 580 BCE

Medium

ceramic

Culture

East Greek, probably Milesian

Department

Greek and Roman Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

In the 6th century BC, a particular type of vessel for scented oil was produced in Corinth, Rhodes, and along the western coast of Asia Minor. Primarily animal forms, they are made of unglazed fired clay with painted decoration. This example in the form of a heron was crafted by a Milesian potter. The bird rests with its delicately curving and counter-curving neck nearly touching the ground; the feathers are defined by incision and painted black slip. An aryballos is a vessel that contained scented oils, this one in the shape of a heron.

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