Jug

Description

Flat-bottomed narrow-necked jug. Hand-built from red clay. The base, lower part of the body, and rim edge have not been preserved. The vessel body is globular in shape. The high conical neck terminates in a sharp rim, slanted at an angle of 40 degrees toward the handle. The rim is sharp and slightly everted outward. The handle is straight, with an applied knob-like projection on its upper part. The body and neck of the vessel were made separately and then joined together. The exterior surface is covered with red slip. Directly below the rim are two applied crescent-shaped ornaments, the inner fields of which are decorated with round appliqués set in incised recesses. In the space between the crescents there is a small straight vertical appliqué ornamented with oblique incised strokes. The center of the neck is decorated with an applied collar featuring incised trefoil motifs separated by vertical strokes. From the collar to the junction of the body and neck, aligned with the vertical appliqué, runs a vertical applied strip decorated with incised rhombuses. On both sides of it are two applied trefoil motifs. The junction of the body and neck is marked by a raised band bearing a row of sub-oval impressions. Below this, around the shoulder, runs a row of applied stylized animal paw motifs with incised claws. At the notional center of the vessel (along the line of the vertical appliqués on the neck) is a complex seven-pointed rosette, whose petals are formed by similar paw motifs. In its center is an inscribed four-petalled rosette with rounded petals. On either side of it, on the body, are two symmetrical applied stylized snake figures in the form of open infinity signs. Beside each snake are three small round appliqués.