Cypriot Incised RPW Flagon: Early BronzeAge III. (2100-2000 BC)

Large flagon, highly decorated with a dense pattern of hatched panels and concentric circles, similar to one from Morphou. The concentric circles seem to be a motif found mostly in central and North West Cyprus and from near the end of the Early Bronze Age and start of Middle Bronze Age, an important period in the history of Cyprus which also saw the production of the Plank Figures.  Incised Red Polished ware was covered in an iron-rich slip which was then burnished and the incised lines filled with lime. 

 The main handle is clearly re-attached or heavily restored with restored areas around the lower attachment point which must originally have been decorated (as at the smaller handle) with concentric circles but is now plain. I cannot see much in the way of obvious mends but the surface seems to show extensive repainting, especially of the white lines which should be lime in the grooves but now looks like new paint. This might conceal other repairs and possibly restoration, particularly the everted spout which looks too thick and may have been completely restored. I had hoped to uncover the original surface but investigation shows that the repainting had at least 2 phases and has unfortunately damaged and bonded with the original surface too extensively to be removed. This was a bad purchase, even though the jug is still substantially in its original form.