Thera Black Incised Vase — Early Cycladic I
This hand-crafted ceramic pyxis is inspired by the ancient treasures of Early Cycladic I Thera, particularly an example housed at the French Archaeological School of Athens. Its spherical form, decorated with fine incised patterns arranged in parallel zones, evokes the elegant simplicity of early Aegean craftsmanship.
Early Cycladic I pyxides rank among the earliest decorated ceramics of the Cyclades. Often discovered in graves, they were likely used to hold cosmetics, jewelry, or other personal objects destined for the afterlife. Their geometric motifs—parallel lines, triangles, and zigzags—reflect the restrained aesthetic of the earliest Cycladic phase, anticipating the more elaborate figurative and spiral designs of the later Keros–Syros culture (Early Cycladic II).
Dimensions: H 10 cm, Rim D 4 cm, Max L 12.5 cm
Reference: Christian Zervos, L’Art des Cyclades du début à la fin de l’Âge du Bronze, Éditions Cahiers d’Art, 1957, p. 84.