A Cypriot White Painted Ware Milk Jug, Middle Cypriot II-III, ca. 1850-1650 BCE

The wide bowl with a handle attached to the lip, painted tan with interior and exterior decoration. Interior decoration is painted brown: design around rim, criss-cross lines that meet in the center, and four circles in each quadrant. The exterior rim is tan and sides and bottom are orange. Straight and wavy line patterns cross over the exterior, and circles are in quadrants (like interior). Handle is also painted with brown lines.

Dimensions:  Diameter (with handle): 6 1/4 in (15 7/8 cm), height: 2 1/4 in (10 7/8 cm)

Condition:  Surface worn in places, with crack to handle, possibly professionally rejoined otherwise intact and in very good condition overall.

Provenance:  The William R. Crawford collection of Ancient Glass and Antiquities, acquired in Cyprus prior to 1972.  This piece is accompanied by a copy of the export license issued to Mr. Crawford by Republic of Cyprus, Department of Antiquities.    William R. Crawford, a retired American career diplomat and expert on the Middle East and Cyprus, was Director of Arab-Israeli Affairs at the State Department between 1959-1964, and Deputy Chief of Mission in Cyprus thereafter.  In the 1970's, he was ambassador to Yemen and then to Cyprus and later became principal deputy assistant secretary of state for Near East and South Asian affairs.  He donated part of his collection to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts prior to his death in 2002.