Oinochoe (Pitcher)

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FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

This jug was probably used to serve wine at gatherings. The pinched mouth forms a narrow channel that controls the flow of its contents when poured. The seventh century marks the beginning of the Archaic period (700–480 BC). In Corinth, vase painters embellished their pottery with creatures, both real and imaginary, and sometimes humans and gods. These artisans also explored new methods of decoration, often painting their subjects in silhouette with black gloss and added details by incising through the black to reveal the lighter clay below. Sometimes a reddish-purple or creamy white gloss was also added, as is the case here.

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