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Minoan Globular Flasks
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 27 September 2013
Extract
This particular vase shape has a purely Minoan origin. The first examples appear in the M.M. II/IIIA period, but their manufacture is quite different and it has not yet taken the typical form of the later examples.
The small number of vases of this type which survive in Crete and generally in the Aegean area obliges one to consider the special reasons for the rarity of the type. One of the main reasons, and perhaps the most relevant, is the difficulty involved in the manufacture of the vase. The two globular parts of the body are made separately and afterwards joined. We can easily confirm this by looking at the lines caused by the potter's wheel, and the marks where the vase has been joined in the interior. The neck, the handles, and the base are also manufactured separately. The immediate consequence of this manufacture is a lack of firmness and stability. The vase, therefore, breaks more easily and is quickly put out of use.
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- Copyright © The Council, British School at Athens 1971
References
1 The purpose of this article is to present all the examples of this vase shape so far published, in order to give a complete picture of the type. I would like to thank Mrs. J. Richardson (née Vafopoulou) for translating my text from the original Greek.
2 For the origin of the type see: Evans, , PM ii, 178–9, 215, 222, 509–10Google Scholar; Furumark, , MP 32, 67.Google Scholar
3 Here we investigate the first attempt at the manufacture of the globular types, which in general were rather rare during this period of Minoan pottery.
4 Popham, M., ‘L.M. pottery, a summary’, BSA lxii (1967) 345.Google Scholar
5 Height 33·5 cm. Inventory number: Rethymnon Π 95.
6 Because the finds do not come from an excavation we cannot say with certainty whether this vase was in an L.M. II tomb, or if this tomb was reused during L.M. III, or the vase was placed in the grave in the L.M. IIIA/B period as a special offering to the deceased. The last suggestion seems more likely.
7 This vase constitutes further evidence for the acceptance of the theory that the Palace Style was extended to the area of western Crete (see ADelt xxiii (1968) Chronika 415; xxiv (1969) Chronika 428–30).
8 C. 563, B.M. Cat. I, ii. 110, fig. 193; BSA lxii (1967) 345, pl. 84 D. Ht. 16 in.
9 The most recent excavations at Chania showed the presence of a particularly important workshop of the L.M. IIIB phase (BCH 1969, 396–418, fig. 1–33). It is not yet possible to say with certainty that this workshop flourished to such an extent in the L.M. IIIA 2 phase as to have included globular flasks among its products.
10 Inventory no.: Chania Π 1321. Ht. 32 cm. I am grateful to Professor N. Platon for permission to publish this vase.
11 It was found in tomb A, together with two small figurines of the φ type and vases which date from the late L.M. IIIA 2 phase.
12 BCH 1969, 396–418.
13 ADelt xx (1965) Chronika 569; xxi (1966) Chronika 426–7; xxii (1967) Chronika 502; xxiv (1969) Chronika 428. Acta of First International Cypriot Congress: J. Tzedakis, ‘Cypriot pottery in Western Crete’ (to be published).
14 Maroni lies on the north side of Cyprus, and its position evidently put it among the export centres of the period.
15 Ht. 40 cm.
16 Evans, , PM iv, 353Google Scholar, fig. 297a, a2; 1008–9, figs. 959–60.
17 Evans, , PM iv, 305.Google Scholar
18 Ht. 29 cm. Restored both at the neck and lip region. BSA ix (1902–3) 316–17, fig. 15.
19 Ht. 31·5 cm. BSA ix. 316. BSA Suppl. i. 84–5, fig. 67.
20 Popham, M., ‘The destruction of the palace of Knossos’, St. Med. Arch. xii. 76Google Scholar, pl. 48 f. The writer gives other examples which come from the palace of Knossos, but they are too fragmentary for study.
21 This design is quite similar to FM 17. I believe, however, that the artist wants to give the impression of a more naturalistic expression of his theme. This is, after all, the mentality which dominates the Minoan pottery of the early L.M. period.
22 A possible example from the same workshop may be a stirrup-jar which was recently found in the Kastelli Chanion excavation (BCH 1969, 397, fig. 3).
23 Popham, M., ‘The destruction of the palace of Knossos’, St. Med. Arch. xii, 76Google Scholar, pl. 48 e.
I warmly thank Dr. H. Catling for his kindness in sending the photograph of this find.
24 Basically the chronology depends on the study of the decorative motifs, and their comparison with similar examples from Knossos.
25 It was found in a pit which yielded pottery of M.M. II down to L.M. IIIA (see ADelt xxv (1970) Chronika in process of publication; AAA iii, 101). Inventory no.: Chania Π 2525. Existing diameter 28 cm.
26 As above. Inventory no.: Chania Π 2522. Existing diameter 26·5 cm.
27 As above. Inventory no.: Chania Π 2523. Existing diameter 22 cm.
28 As above. Inventory no.: Chania Π 2524. Existing diameter 13·5 cm.
29 As above. Inventory no.: Chania Π 2340. Ht. 16·5 cm.
30 As above. Inventory no.: Chania Π 2526. Existing ht. 7·8 cm.
31 It was found with some other vases of the L.M. IIIA/B period during roadworks in the area of Mastamba immediately after the war, most probably in 1946. Other evidence is missing. Inventory no, of Rethymnon Museum: Π 724. Ht. 14 cm.
32 It was found in the excavation of a chamber tomb in the area of Stavromenos (see ADelt xvi (1961) 272 fig. 234d). I thank the excavator, Dr. Alexiou, for giving me permission to publish this find. Inventory no. of Rethymnon Museum: Π 781. Ht. 15·6 cm.
33 We must clearly differentiate between the globular flasks and the flat ones, known as ‘pilgrim's’ flasks. Probably their prototype must be looked for in the same place and pottery forms as that of the globular flasks. The ‘pilgrim's’ flasks, however, are vases in common use, whose manufacture continued even during the historical period in the whole Aegean area.
34 During the Greek-Swedish excavations at Chania in 1971, eight new fragments of L.M. IIIA flasks were found.