73-006 - Development Site at The University of Queensland

South Italian Pottery - Black Gloss Ware: Black Gloss Feeder

Inv. No.: 73.006
Provenance: South Italy
Date: 4th century BC
Height: 80mm
Diameter: 62mm

Gift of Dr Stanley Castlehow.

A small, black gloss feeder with a cylindrical neck that is slightly concave in profile set on a globular body. The lip is flaring and the base a rounded disc or pad. The flat strap handle passes from the edge of the lip to the edge of the shoulder, and a conical spout is placed near it, on the widest part of the body. It points upwards at a slight angle. The vase is in good condition, but chipped and slightly abraded.

Function:
This vase was perhaps a feeder for babies or invalids. It could also be used for filling lamps with oil and for funerary purposes.

Manufacture:
A wheel-thrown vase with a handle that was shaped by hand.

Bibliography:
Antiquities, Charles Ede Catalogue, 93 (1973), 10.

Kanowski, M.G., The Antiquities Collection, catalogue, Department of Classics and Ancient History, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, 1978, 38.

Sparkes, B. A. and L. Talcott, The Athenian Agora: Volume XII. Black and Plain Pottery of the 6^th, 5^th and 4^th centuries BC: Part 1. Text, Princeton, New Jersey, The American School of Classical Studies at Athens, 1970, 161-162 ("Feeder").

Comparanda:
Breitenstein, N. and K. Friis Johansen, Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum, Danemark 7, Copenhague 7 (1955), IV, Plate 296, 1 and 2 (black feeders from Sicily).

Greifenhagen, A., Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum, Deutschland 4, Braunschweig 1 (1940), Tafel 46, 10 (Gnathia ware example of similar shape with shorter neck).

Sparkes, B. A. and L. Talcott, The Athenian Agora: Volume XII. Black and Plain Pottery of the 6^th, 5^th and 4^th centuries BC: Part 2. Indexes and Illustrations, Princeton, New Jersey, The American School of Classical Studies at Athens, 1970, Plate 39, 1197-1199 (Attic examples without neck or flaring lip).

Ure, P. N. and A. D. Ure, Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum, Great Britain 12, Reading 1 (1954), Plate 39, 9-12 (different types of Greek feeder; 10 has a strainer top).