Pottery of ancient Cyprus

The pottery of ancient Cyprus starts during the Neolithic period. During the Early and Middle Bronze Ages, it is especially imaginative in shape and decoration. There are also many early terracotta figurines that were produced depicting female figures.

The earliest ceramics feature the "Combed ware" technique.^[1] Throughout the ages, Cypriot ceramics demonstrate many connections with cultures from around the Mediterranean.

Bronze Age

Cypriot Red Polished Ware II-III, 2200-1700 BC. Kiel, Germany

Cypriot White Slip Ware. British Museum

Cypriot Base Ring Ware, Late Bronze Age. Hecht Museum

Cypriot "White Painted I" Ware, Iron Age. Israeli National Maritime Museum

Cypriot Bichrome ware. Jug with Scenic Decoration, 8th-6th centuries BC. Neues Museum, Berlin

"Red Polished Ware" has been found from the start of the Bronze Age in Cyprus.^[2]

White-slip- and Base-ring Ware are considered to be "typical Cypriot ceramics of the Late Bronze Age".^[3]

Early Iron Age

"Cypro-Geometric I" period

During the period 1050-950 BC, characteristic pottery were^[5]

"White Painted I"
"Bichrome I" Ware"
"Plain White I"
"Black Slip I"

"Cypro-Geometric II" period

During the period 950-850 BC, characteristic pottery were^[6]

"White Painted II Ware"
"Bichrome II"
"Plain White II"
"Black Slip II"

Cypro-Geometric III

During the period 850-700 BC, characteristic pottery were^[7]

White Painted III Ware
Bichrome III
Plain White III
Black Slip III
Red Slip I
Black on Red I
Grey & Black Polished I

Cypro-Archaic I

During the period 700-600 BC, characteristic pottery were^[8]

White Painted IV "Free-field Style"
Bichrome IV "Free-field Style"
Plain White IV
Black Slip IV
Red Slip II
Black on Red II
Grey & Black Polished II
Bichrome Red I

Cypro-Archaic II

During the period 600-475 BC, characteristic pottery were^[9]

White Painted V Ware
Bichrome V
Plain White V
Black Slip V
Red Slip III
Black on Red III
Bichrome Red II

Cypro-Classical I

During the period 475-400 BC, characteristic pottery were^[10]

White Painted VI Ware
Bichrome VI
Plain White VI
Black Slip VI
Red Slip IV
Black on Red IV
Bichrome Red III
Black & Grey Lustrous I
Stroke Polished I

Cypro-Classical II

During the period 400-323 BC, characteristic pottery were^[11]

White Painted VII Ware
Bichrome VII
Plain White VII
Red Slip V
Black on Red V
Black & Grey Lustrous II
Stroke Polished II

Gallery

White Slip II Ware—14th-13th centuries BCE
^{Israeli National Maritime Museum, Haifa}
Black on Red II Ware, 750-600BC
^{Museum of Cycladic Art at Athens, Greece}
Bichrome Red III Ware ; (600-480 BC);
^{Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna}