작품 상세

The surface of the gastra is richly decorated with incised imagery encircling the body, including a griffin, a lion, birds, and a band of floral rosettes. The neck bears linear banded ornamentation, and the mouth is sealed with an animal-shaped lid. At the top of the gastra, there is an incised inscription: “Handcrafted by Leonidas Achilleos from Anarita, Paphos, 1933.” Cypriot kolotzia (dried gourds) are renowned for their distinctive carved decoration, often depicting scenes from daily life, Greek history and mythology, as well as geometric patterns. The incisions were made using a sharp knife, nail, or needle. Afterwards, the surface of the gourd was rubbed with a mixture of ash and oil—or black olives—to darken the engravings and enhance the contrast of the decoration.