Ceramic Art of Ancient Cyprus Exhibition in Melbourne

The University of Melbourne has one of the most important collections of Cypriot antiquities and has organized a ceramic art exhibition. The exhibition, which is open from April 21 through October 10, includes a wide range of Bronze and Iron Age artefacts.

‘Red polished ware juglet with incised decoration’, Vounous, Cyprus, Early Cypriot III to Middle Cypriot I, c. 2000–1800 BCE. [Credit: The University of Melbourne Art Collection/Cypriot Collection]

The items were brought to Australia by the late Professor JR Stewart from the 30′s until the 60′s. The objects now on display were discovered in several areas of Cyprus and then collected by the Australian Museum.

Cyprus is renowned for pottery of good quality. Archaeological excavations date the Cypriot art of pottery back to 5,500 B.C.

This exhibition came as a result of the collaboration between Dr. Andrew Jamieson, Classics Curator at the Ian Potter Museum of Art, Dr. Jennifer Webb and Professor David Frankel, both from the Archaeology Program at La Trobe University.

Dr. Webb stated that she feels proud of the long collaboration between La Trobe University and Cyprus, while Dr. Jamieson stresses the fact that University of Melbourne is lucky to own such objects.

Another Australian University – that of Sydney – also has a similar collaboration with Cyprus, and presently, its archaeologists excavate in Pafos, Cyprus.

The exhibition is free of charge at the Ian Potter Museum of Art in Melbourne.

Author: Marianna Tsatsou | Source: Greek Reporter [May 07, 2012]