Janiform Beaker
2nd century CE
Description
Janiform beaker of red-orange clay, made by joining two molded sections. The seam is clearly visible. The beaker has a cylindrical top, with modeled rim. It becomes more spherical at the shoulder, with each side of the body taking the spape of a female face. The faces are similar but not identical; each woman wears an ivy wreath and may therefore represent a maenad (a female follower of the wine god Dionysos/Bacchus). Below the faces, the vessel narrows to a circular foot. There is some white discoloration, but the vessel is essentially intact.
Dimensions
greatest dimensions: 13.2 x 10.1 cm (5 3/16 x 4 in.)
Provenance
[C. Dikran Kelekian, Ancient Arts, New York, 1983] sold; to The Alice Corinne McDaniel Collection, Department of the Classics, Harvard University (1983-2012), transfer; to the Harvard Art Museums, 2012.
Related Artworks
View MoreGlass
20th centurySwedishSteel
19th centuryPersianSilver
17th centuryBritishTerracotta, brown ware
3rd millennium BCEAnatolianKaya-type ware: gray stoneware with combed and openwork decoration and with considerable natural ash glaze. Reportedly recovered from the Tomb of the Generals in Yangji-ri, Hyŏnp'ung-myŏn, Talsŏng-gun, near Kyŏngju, North Kyŏngsang province in 1960.
6th centuryKoreanSilver
18th centuryAmericanSlip-painted celadon ware: light gray stoneware with celadon glaze over decoration painted in iron-brown slip
11th-13th centuryKoreanStoneware with celadon glaze
6th centuryChineseTerracotta
4th century BCESouth ItalianJasperware
18th centuryBritishWood
Chinese