My porcelain jar was inspired by a jar I saw at the Kerameikos Museum in Athens, Greece.  It is a West Slope style pyxis with garlands and dolphins, made during the Early Hellenistic period, ca. 330-300 BCE. Pyxis jars were usually used to hold jewelry, cosmetics, incense, or medicine.

I loved how unique the design was, with the two discs, round lid, and pedestal foot. The pyxis form is described as a jar with a lid but no handles, and most ancient greek pyxis vessels have a knob. This one was alluring because it looked so modern and seamless without the knob. 

I knew immediately it would be one of my favorite forms I saw at this museum, and couldn't wait to make my own version back home in Brooklyn when I returned. It was thrown as a closed form, and I had chosen to place the opening underneath the first disc, so it is a bit hidden. I created the  solid discs by pinching the clay wall, similar to my method of making lids for closed form jars. Keeping the altered wall balanced while the wheel spun was quite the challenge. 
 
To make the piece my own, I chattered the surface and used a teal glossy glaze with gold luster accents. We all say museums are such an incredible source of inspiration, yet so rarely do the designs of these lesser known ancient pots get recreated by the mainstream pottery world of today. I had so much fun recreating something from the past and I have a whole list of forms I plan on continuing to draw inspiration from.