Made from red clay incised with parallel lines forming a triangular pattern. Below the rim are small indentations.

There is some uncertainty about the date of this fragment as the fabric is not typical of Early Cyladic IIIB, and about the type of vessel from which it comes. It may be from a pyxis – a small box used to contain cosmetics or small objects – which were often decorated with incised herringbone patterns. An intact Minoan pyxis at the University of Colorado may give an idea of the original appearance of our vessel.

Provenance

Excavated at Phylakopi, Melos, c. 1899; Thomas Dinham Atkinson (1864–1948), by whom bequeathed to Winchester College in 1948.