47. Ancient Greek Trefoil Oinochoe

Oinochoe

An oinochoe is a wine jug and a key form of ancient Greek pottery. There are many different forms. The earliest is the olpe, with no distinct shoulder and usually a handle rising above the lip. There is the "type 8 oinochoe” which is similar to a mug, with no single pouring point and a slightly curved profile. The chous was a squat rounded form, with trefoil mouth.

Oinochoe may be decorated or undecorated. Many typically have only one handle at the back and may include a trefoil mouth and pouring spout. Their size also varies considerably; most, at up to 25 cm tall, could be comfortably held and poured with one hand, but there are much larger examples.

Many Greek oenochoe were in terracotta pottery, but bronze oinochoe were also common, particularly among the elite, though far fewer have survived. Large versions in stone were sometimes used as grave markers, often carved with reliefs.