The interior painted black with section of a reserved circle at the base of the fragment. On the exterior a series of reserved and painted bands with an inscription: ΧΑΙΡΕ ΚΑΙ ΠΙΕΙ.

This fragment was part of the rim of a small drinking cup of a type known as a ‘lip cup’, so-called because they show a clearly demarcated rim (or lip). Lip cups are one of several closely related forms of drinking cup made in late 6^th century Athens which are collectively referred to as ‘Little-master cups’. This name comes from the small-scale figurative images that form the typical decoration of these cups. Gr6 is a complete example of a Little-master cup (of a form known as a ‘band cup’).

Lip cups usually have inscriptions in the unpainted band between the handles, quite often the name of the potter or painter. The inscription painted on this fragment reads: ΧΑΙΡΕ ΚΑΙ ΠΙΕΙ (Greetings, have a drink). This phrase, and other similar expressions, are common on cups of this type and encouraged guests to enjoy themselves at the symposium.

 

Literature: J. Falconer and T. Mannack, Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum: Great Britain, Fascicule 19: Winchester College (Oxford, 2002), p. 1, plate 1.5

Exhibited: Chichester District Museum, May-September 2004

Provenance: Unknown

Location: Treasury, Gallery 3