© Museu Comarcal de l'Urgell-Tàrrega
Omeka ID 1273
Pla de les Tenalles
Protohistory and Iberian world

miniature cup

MCUT 2603

Object type
cup
Production date
-300 / -200
Fabric
common Iberian pottery
Museum
Museu Comarcal de l'Urgell-Tàrrega
Culture
Protohistory and Iberian world
Discovery location
Pla de les Tenalles
Materials
pottery
Township
Granyanella (Europa, Espanya, Catalunya, Lleida, La Segarra)
Technique
wheel-thrown
Where is it?
Exposició permanent
Dimensions
44 x 50 mm
Description
Cup with very small handles. It is not very faithful version of prototypes of Greek cups with a high foot and two horizontal handles. Being a miniature version, differences from the original models are even more evident, for example, the disproportion of the handles compared with the rest of the body. The cups with handles are Greek vessels for consuming liquids, especially wine, with a very important social function in community or private meals and banquets. However, in the case of this example, while interpreting its functionality, the criterion of its small size prevails over its shape. It corresponds to what is commonly known as "fair cups", which are often found in the context of worship or ceremonies, for example, small votive deposits beneath the pavements of the houses. In any case, we must not rule out their use as toys for children. Fair vessels of this type are not very abundant but occasionally documented in almost all sectors of Iberian culture, with a very wide chronology. This example comes from the Iberian village of Pla de les Tenalles de la Mora, an unknown context, with a vague dating that should be between the fourth century BC and early second century BC.