This shallow krater (wine-mixing bowl) is decorated in a technique known as 'Gnathia ware', named after the town in South Italy where it was found in greatest quantities. In this technique the pot, which has been dipped in black-slip to cover the body, is then painted with added paint in reds, creamish white and yellowish brown made using slip over the top of white paint (often called gold).
This vase is decorated with a female head facing a dove on the neck of the vase with temndrils flanking the design and a band of rosettes beneath. The body of the vase has been decorated with two zones of moulded ribbed effect. It is early in the Late Gnathia ware sequence, which is typified by the combination of ribbed decoration and painted motifs.
