Frog-Shaped Guttus (Oil Flask)

Description

Guttus is a Latin word referring to a small vessel with vertical spout and ring handle, probably used for pouring small amounts of precious liquids. Often, mold-made ceramic gutti take the form of animals, with realistic painted decoration. Here, the lifelike frog features black stripes and alternating black and white circles.

Provenance

Keith P. Smith, Bath, OH, gifted to the Cleveland Museum of Art (?-1985); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (1985-)

Frog-Shaped Guttus (Oil Flask)

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300s BCE

Accession Number

1985.176

Medium

ceramic

Dimensions

Diameter: 1.5 cm (9/16 in.); Overall: 5.8 x 11.2 x 9.1 cm (2 5/16 x 4 7/16 x 3 9/16 in.)

Classification

Ceramic

Museum

The Cleveland Museum of Art

Cleveland, United States

Credit Line

Gift of Keith P. Smith