Cypriot 5 bowl kernos with human figure: Middle Cypriot I – II (2000/1950 – 1750 BC)

White Painted II - III Ware -Good condition

A tall composite kernos for votive offerings of varied fruit and grains, probably a unique gift made for a funeral. A type descended from Early Cypriot III Red-Polished Ware kernoi incorporating a human figure, known especially from Vounous (and see no.36). However here, rather than a flat, plank-like figure, it is fully rounded. The simple red-painted decoration relates to White Painted II decoration aearly in the Middle Bronze Age. The lower bowls are similar to no.118 and the Yortan or Cypriot no.272 (Dubitanda). Karageorghis classes it “WPW III?” from similarities of the figure to other anthropomorphic handles.

This appealing piece was Desmond Morris’ first Cypriot acquisition which he kept until his death, and which I am grateful his family allowed me to acquire a month later, according to his wishes, in time to be added to this catalogue.

Composite vessel with pale buff slip and red painted decoration. A tall, round-sectioned shaft divides into three below to meet the upper sides of three globular bowls with short vertical rims. These also inter-link at their mid-points. High on the shaft are attached two similar bowls, projecting forwards and sideways (described by Morris as “breast-like”). Above, the shaft divides in two to form a loop handle, the upper part provided by a human bust with short, forward projecting arms, which narrows to a head with protruding nose and hair (or hat), with eyes, two nostrils and mouth as poked holes, and grooves for eyebrows. Painted zig-zag across brow and lines radiating from the nose, with horizontals and a zig-jag below. Long zig-zag hair behind. More horizontals and verticals below and on arm-buds. On the shaft and upper bowls rectangles or diamonds cross-hatched. On lower bowls, more such squares, plus vertical panels diagonally cross-hatched and others with vertical zig-zag.

Published: Morris 1985, frontispiece & p.154 pl.185; Karageorghis 2003, p.47 cat.27. Exhibited: Ashmolian Museum, April-May1985.

Cf: Dikaios 1940 pl.XXVIIIa, XXVII d; Buchholz & Karageorghis 1973, no.1556, Karageorghis 1976 no.86; Karageorghis 1991, p.134 pl.XCIII; V. Karageorghis et al 2003 p.47,48 cat.27,29.