VesselsRoman1st century CE

Chalice with Pinecone Pattern

1st century CE

Description

This mold-made, relief ware vessel has a vitreous lead glaze. The low, broad foot has molded edges and a deep central concavity underneath. The extremely truncated stem supports the deep, rounded body with a broad mouth. The rim is offset by molding. Five rows of small pine cones in relief, each framed by an arch, ring the vessel. A small granulated rosette fills each 'spandrel' between arches. The glaze has decayed to a semi-irridescent pale pinkish-yellow on vessel's exterior, although small green patches provide some insight into its original color. The interior and rim are coated with a well-preserved yellow-brown glaze.

Classification

Vessels

Technique

Mold-made

Medium

Terracotta, lead glaze

Culture

Roman

Period

Roman Imperial period, Early

Century

1st century CE

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Ancient and Byzantine Art & Numismatics

Dimensions

12 x 15.2 cm (4 3/4 x 6 in.)

Provenance

Charles Dikran Kelekian Ancient Art, New York City, since the 1950s; acquired by the Department of the Classics, Harvard University, for the Alice Corinne McDaniel Collection, 1978; transfer to the Harvard Art Museum, 2008.