Object ID
2003.37.22
Object Name
Vase
Object Collection
JANE SARLAS FONTANA (is part of)
Material
CERAMIC
Object Entities
Sarlas, Chris (is related to)
Object Description
A ceramic vase, glazed over to look like wood and decorated with cream paint with ancient scenes. On the underside of the lip is a design with two parallel sets of lines with a leaf-like pattern in between. It almost goes completely around the vase, but the area right above the handles of the pattern is not connected. The neck of the vase is empty of design except the bottom half inch. That design has the same two sets of parallel lines, the design in the center looks like three flowers on their side and the stem wrapping above it. Similar to the design on the lip it is on both sides of the vase but does not connect to the handle. The handles themselves have two spots to put a hand in, one by the lip and another small one at the shoulder. There is an inch-and-a-quarter piece of ceramic that separates them. On that piece is a geometric design of a pattern of eleven dots, each connected by a line; this is on both sides of the piece. The outer part of the handle also has a pattern that is Greek keyish. On one side of the stomach of the vase is a fight scene. Both men are in armor, and the same skirt to it, but the chest piece seems to be opposite to one another. Both are in helmets although they are not the same: one Spartan-like (right) and the other Corinthian (left). They have the same footwear as well as both holding spears. Another difference will be on the shield, same size but the one on the left has a criss-cross pattern on the edge while the one on the right has a wavy pattern. Under the two is another set of parallel lines., in between which are vertical lines that are in alternating pattern of not touching the top or bottom lines. On the other side of the stomach is another floral pattern, the same as on the bottom of the neck, where two flowers are shown on their side and have connecting stems. On the base of the vase, there is the exact same pattern as on the lip. On the very bottom is written "Hand Made in Greece No. 25."
Origin
Comes from the Jane Sarlas Estate, donated by Chris Sarlas. This item was handmade and painted in Greece. Clearly not an ancient piece for the inscription on the bottom with the words "Made in Greece No.25" There was most likely many of these vaes made at a time and are inspired by more ancient pieces. Due to leaves in the bottom of the Vase, this was clearly a house hold accessory that was used quite requently.
Rights and Reproduction
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Citation
Vase, JANE SARLAS FONTANA, National Hellenic Museum, https://collections.nationalhellenicmuseum.org/Detail/objects/7081. Accessed 09/13/26.