G78

East Greek faience hedgehog spouted kernos

An extremely unusual faience kernos vessel consisting of a central squat globular body mounted with three smaller bowls around the perimeter and an animal form spout to the front.

The animal appears to be a mammal with ears and a broad body, most likely a hedgehog although far from anatomically exact.

The ritual kernos vessel (a vessel mounted with a series of smaller bowls or receptacles around its rim) originates from the Aegean during the Bronze Age but the shape changed and adapted to various functions and remained in use until at least the 4th Century BC in the Greek settlements in Italy. The shape was not part of the Egyptian repertoire and so this vessel must derive from a Greek culture with Egyptian faience production techniques.

Probably East Greek or Rhodian, late 6th Century BC

Extensive surface wear and glaze deterioration as indicated in the photographs, a couple of chips have been restored on the rim of the main bowl and on the rim of two of the smaller bowls.

Size: 3.8 x 11 cms

Ex. private collection, London, UK.

A couple of illegible old labels are attached to the base.