Cosmetics jar

In Greek antiquity, a pyxis was a box used to store cosmetic items. It could be made from a variety of materials, including pottery. This tall pyxis was made in Corinth, and displays the superb craftsmanship of the vase painters there. Lines of differing thickness cover the surface with geometrical precision, interrupted by a frieze of little birds with jaunty expressions. The lid is surmounted by a fine knob.