Daunian pottery strainer vase, Circa 500 BC

A pottery vessel with strap handle and a pouring spout with drilled holes just above to strain contents. The surface is skillfully painted with black stylized geometric motifs between which a single animal head protome with prominent ears.

Daunian pottery was produced mainly in the regional production centres of Ordona and Canosa di Puglia, beginning around 700 BC. The earliest paintings on pottery show vessels with geometric patterns. The pottery was hand-formed, rather than thrown on a potter’s wheel. They consisted of earth-coloured red, brown or black applied with decoration. On them were painted diamonds, triangles, circles, crosses, squares, arches, swastikas and other art forms.