Vase with “kannourka”, red clay pottery

This vase is representative of rural pottery centres, such as Phoini, where female potters made such vases on the wheel ("gyristari"). The vase is made of red clay and is hand-carved with decoration of flowers and birds. The decorative elements are attached to the main body of the vase, with cylindrical stems called "kannourka", on which birds and flowers can be seen alternately. The vase is particularly elaborate as it consists of 2 vases, with the smaller one at the top, at the mouth of which there are 2 birds facing each other. The vase is engraved with the inscription PHINI CYPRUS SOFRONIA in English (that is the name of the manufacturing village and of the potter), since it was intended for the tourist market of the time.