Byzantine Sgraffito Decorated Cup with Ashmolean Provenance

Object Description

A fine, Byzantine terracotta, glazed cup, featuring sgraffito decoration. The vessel features a deep bowl, covered in a creamy-white glaze. The bowl rests on a small foot, left undecorated and displaying the rough earthenware beneath the glaze. The gently sloping sides lead to a everted rim, decorated with an incised, abstract wave pattern. Within the centre of the bowl is another abstract pattern, thought to resemble a star. There is a circular nucleus in its centre, decorated with incised vertical bands; the outer two featuring striations all the way across. A green slip has been applied to the star, as further decoration. Towards the top of the bowl are various incised bands, mostly linear but with one undulating line, enhancing the bowl further.

Date: Circa 1500 – 1600 AD

Object History

Property of a central London gallery; Previously, ex collection of James Alfred Brew (1923 – 2008), collected in Cyprus during the 1960s, thence by descent to his daughter, Elaine Brew. Discovered in the Elea region, Paphos. Formerly in the collection of the Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford. Much of Brew’s collection is on permanent display at the Ashmolean.

Object Condition

Fine. Repaired and restored throughout. Previous collection mark to the reverse. Some loss of pigment and glaze.

Object Details