Mycenaean Kylix with Seashells in the Getty Villa, July 2008

Stemmed Cup with Seashells
Unknown
Mycenaean, Greece, 1350 - 1300 B.C.
Terracotta
6 7/8 in.
96.AE.310

A band of three shells decorates each side of this Mycenaean stemmed cup. Both the shape of the vessel and its decorative motif are typical for the period from about 1350 to 1300 B.C. Beginning earlier still, around 1500 B.C., Mycenaean potters decorated their wares with very naturalistic renderings of marine life, a style adopted from the island of Crete. Over the centuries, these pictures became more stylized, as can be seen on this cup.

The period from 1350 to 1300 B.C. was a period of growth and prosperity for the Mycenaean kingdoms. Standardization in both the forms and decoration of pottery developed among widely spread communities--evidence of an organized, highly centralized culture. The stemmed cup was one of the most popular vases in this period. Enormous quantities of these vessels were kept in Mycenaean palaces and may have been used at large banquets.

Text from: www.getty.edu/art/gettyguide/artObjectDetails?artobj=110628