Blue-glazed vase with two handles and incised patterns
Clay. Syria. 2nd century A.D. Height 28.6 cm., rim outer diameter 9.3 cm. Collection of the Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo. This vase with a pair of handles is uniformly coated inside and out with blue glaze. The vase falls into the category of type I-B-i of form classification by Mr. N. Toll. The vase has a long neck, and the rim of the mouth is projected outward. The belly expands outward sharply, and the base is double, molded with a forceful and stable effect. The handles look like two twisted ropes. One end of the handle is attached near the mouth; the handle makes a sharp angle as it drops straight down to the shoulder. There are two round bosses beside the insertion of the handles near the lip, and similar bosses are mounted on the top of the handles also. In addition, there are two conical bosses beside the lower attachment of the handles. The bosses resemble rivets used to attach a handle to metalware. A shallow decorative zigzag pattern is incised around the belly.
 - Shinji Fukai, Ceramics of Ancient Persia (New York: Weatherhill, 1981), plate 78
 - Photo by Bin Takahashi

This page last updated 23 Feb 2021