February Find: The White-Slip Chian Chalice

An Ionian classic, revived

The Chian chalice is a rare and elegant drinking cup produced on the island of Chios during the Archaic period (ca. 580–550 BC). With its tall foot, deep bowl, and luminous white slip, it became the signature vessel of Chian workshops and one of the most refined expressions of early Ionian pottery.

Ancient literary tradition already associates Chios with fine drinking vessels. In his Deipnosophists, Athenaeus refers to the chalix—perhaps a specific Chian shape, perhaps a more general term for a drinking cup. Archaeology has since shown that the chalice was indeed the dominant form of Chian ceramic production in the 6th century BC.

Chian chalices travelled widely across the eastern Mediterranean, with examples found in Rhodes, Cyprus, and northern Greece. Their appeal lies in restraint: dark-painted figures or floral motifs stand out against the pale slip, without heavy ornament or visual excess.

This month, we reintroduce the white-slip Chian chalice, following Archaic prototypes and traditional ceramic processes. The decoration is entrusted to Iphigenia Nalbani, ceramicist and vase painter specialising in prehistoric pottery as well as Geometric and Orientalising techniques. Each piece is conceived as a functional object and a collectible work—quiet, balanced, and rooted in a tradition where craft, knowledge, and elegance were inseparable.