Cylindrical Pyxis and Lid of the Grotta-Pelos Group

Cosmetics, jewelry, and pigments were held in a diminutive container known as a pyxis (box), which was produced in a variety of shapes and decorations. Like other Cycladic vessels, they were made in both terracotta and marble. This terracotta lidded pyxis is decorated with herringbone patterns (see the body and lid). As the potter's wheel was not yet in use in this period, the vessel was shaped by hand from coils or slabs of clay and fired in a kiln. Serving a variety of practical daily functions, many of these utilitarian vases also accompanied the deceased in graves.

The pottery and other material culture in the Cyclades have been systematically organized into a series of cultures or groups, each named after a specific island or site. The shape and decoration of this vessel are typical features of the earliest stage of the Cycladic period, known as the Grotta-Pelos culture (3000-2800 B.C.), named after the Early Cycladic sites of Grotta (on the island of Naxos) and Pelos (on Milos). Cycladic potters at this time often engraved terracotta vases with dense linear designs, filling the incisions with a chalky white substance to stand out against the darker surface. The herringbone pattern covering much of the exterior of this vessel was a typical motif for the period, perhaps reflecting the woven texture of basketry.