The Etruscan World (Routledge Worlds)

• Richard Daniel De Puma –

form of the chalice is the so-called caryatid chalice (Fig. 53.5) with carinated bowl (often
with an omphalos) and a fl at ring base with four fi gural or perforated supports. Two ivory
examples, from the Barberini Tomb at Praeneste, suggest that the ultimate inspiration
for the type may be the ancient Near East. However, the distinctive carinated bowl of this
and the other versions of this shape (kantharos, kyathos, chalice) appears in much earlier
impasto examples and is thought to be Italic in origin.

BUCCHERO SOTTILE SHAPES INSPIRED BY NEAR

EASTERN OR GREEK PROTOTYPES

As just mentioned, the distinctive fi gural supports on caryatid chalices may have been
derived from Near Eastern prototypes, but the carinated bowls of the chalice shape seem
to be Italic. A good example of a shape that is entirely derived from one in the Near
East is the so-called Cypro-Phoenician oinochoe (Fig. 53.6). This jug’s most characteristic
feature is a tall, conical neck terminating in a small mouth. Examples appear in impasto
and a number of metal examples have been found. Silver oinochoai, some with added gold
ornaments, come from the Regolini-Galassi Tomb at Cerveteri, from Pontecagnano, and

Figure 53.4 Bucchero kantharos, provenance unknown, early sixth century bc. University of Iowa

Museum of Art, Iowa City, inv. 1971.248. Photograph by B. Yarborough.

Figure 53.5 Bucchero sottile caryatid chalice, said to be from Chiusi or Volterra, circa 620–580 bc.

From Perkins 2007, p. 98, Fig. 70a.