Stirrup Jar with Squid
| Culture | Minoan |
|---|---|
| Title | Stirrup Jar with Squid |
| Date | 1300–1200 BCE |
| Medium | Terracotta with added color |
| Dimensions | Object: 5 13/16 × 7 1/2 in. (14.8 × 19.1 cm) Overall: 5 13/16 × 7 1/2 in. (14.8 × 19.1 cm) |
| Credit Line | Gift of Thomas T. Solley, Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University |
| Accession Number | 87.4 |
| This artwork is currently on view. | |
This round jar has a squat body and sits on a much smaller, round foot. At the top, a short, central spout is supported by two strap handles, and another short spout is placed just in front of it. A stylized squid and other organic patterns are depicted with reddish-brown lines.
Minoan culture (named for the mythical King Minos) flourished on the island of Crete during the Bronze Age. The island’s ability to provide ports and trading depots supported economic growth and led to its development as a center for the arts and trade. Stirrup jars are named for the arrangement of two handles on either side of a vertical spout. The shape was created by the Minoans and, becoming a popular type, spread to the Cyclades and the Mycenaean mainland as well. Minoan pottery decoration is generally characterized by the flamboyant organization of organic forms. In this case, the design is abstracted from the sea animal called a nautilus and is typical of Minoan “marine style.”
Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.
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"Stirrup Jar with Squid | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=87.4