Kandila (Right profile)

Before 2700 B.C., the most prevalent Cycladic marble vessel was the kandila, a collared storage jar with a pedestal foot. This example has a bulbous body, high neck, and rests on a tall, conical foot. The kandila takes its name from its resemblance to modern Greek church lamps. Cords strung through the four pierced lugs evenly spaced around the body would have been used for hanging, or to attach a lid. Produced in both marble and clay and in a wide range of sizes, this vessel type typically held liquids, such as oil or wine. Many of these utilitarian vases, which served a variety of practical daily functions, also accompanied the deceased in graves.

The production of stone vases was an important and characteristic industry of the Cyclades, and it was only on those islands that white marble was used as a primary material for such vessels. Marble vases like this one were laboriously carved with blades of obsidian, a volcanic glass, and abrasives such as sand, emery, and pumice. The sculptors who carved the Cycladic marble figures—perhaps the most distinctive product of the Cycladic culture—probably also made the stone vases.

Sculptors living on different islands produced marble vessels and figures in a similar style but with distinctive variations. The recognition of different artistic personalities in Cycladic sculpture is based upon recurring systems of proportion and details of execution. This vessel is attributed to Kandila Sculptor B, who was active sometime in the period between 3000 and 2800 B.C. Like all artists at this early period, his real name is unknown, and he is identified only by the style of his work. Scholars have assigned over forty vessels to him. A wide mouth, tall body, low pedestal, broad shoulder, a sunken channel around the neck, a slightly thickened mouth rim, and short lugs distinguish his kandiles. Kandila Sculptor B also thoroughly hollowed out the pedestal and body of his vessels.