Baboon Cup
100 BCE-300 CE (Meroitic Period)
Egypt, Lower Nubia, Karanog
Ceramic, Paint
“In ancient Egypt, baboons were associated with the god Thoth. They also had a connection to the rising sun. The baboon depicted on this cup holds a triangular object that resembles the ancient Egyptian word for ‘gift.’”
On display at Penn Museum E8463
Thomas Pitts I (British, fl. c.1744-1793)
Stirrup cup in the form of a fox's head, 1771
Silver w/ gilt remnants, 6 x 8 x 14 cm (2 3/8 x 3 1/8 x 5 1/2 in.)
Inscription: “Success to the Tettcots Hunt and to the death of the Next”
on display at Harvard Art Museums
additional views via https://harvardartmuseums.org/collections/object/339949?position=339949
#TwoForTuesday:
The KX Painter Drinking cup (skyphos) with confronting lions Archaic Period, c. 585–570 BCE Greece, Attica, Athens Ceramic, Black Figure, H 11.2 cm (4 7/16 in.) Museum of Fine Arts, Boston 97.366
"On the obverse, two lions stand confronted with their chests touching and their faces turned backwards towards the vessel’s handles. Each of the lions is rendered in black paint. Their manes, mouths, chests and bellies are all detailed with red paint, while the locks of hair along their necks alternate in color between red and black. Details of the lions’ anatomy are articulated with incisions. Their ferocity is implied especially by their open mouths, which display their large teeth and projecting tongues. On reverse, a complex interlocking lotus and palmette motif fills the entire pictorial field. The rim and handles of the vessel are decorated with thin linear bands. The lions and the lotus and palmette motif stand atop a red bounding line, below which is a pair of gridded lines and another red bounding line, which is in turn bordered by a ray pattern that emanates from the cup’s foot."
For #OwlishMonday:
Attic Red Figure Owl Skyphos
c. 450 BCE
on display at @pennmuseum
“Small drinking cups with owl and olive branch were popular in 5th century Athens. The owl was particularly associated with Athena, the patron goddess of Athens. The motif of owl with olive symbolized Athens and was derived from the city's famous coinage.”
