David Chilton

My photo shows an ancient Greek red-figure terracotta vase with a body in the shape of a lobster claw. The vase is painted with black glaze. On one side are five knobly bumps or ‘spines’, on the other side is painted a red donkey (not shown). The vessel has a vertical neck with funnel-shaped mouth and outsplayed rim. There is a strap handle from the bottom of the neck across the length of the vase which attaches just before the claw’s pincers. The inner side of the pincers is warm red terracotta. Around the handle base there is a decorative red pattern. The vessel is displayed on a pale beige fabric. Dimensions: 7 x 7.3 x 15.9 cm. On display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The Met label reads: Greek, Attic, red-figure, ca. 460 BC. Attributed to the Class of the Seven Lobster-Claws Donkey; keras (drinking horn). Because so many aspects of Greek life depended on the sea, a vase in the shape of a lobster claw is not surprising. It is, however, exceptional and may be a variant of the askos— a bag-shaped oil container provided with a vertical mouth and strap handle. The Dionysiac iconography of the lobster claw suggests that it was a novelty item used at symposia (drinking parties).

Even 2,500 years ago, people loved a novelty cup! 🦞 🍷 😄

It’s suggested this Ancient Greek terracotta vessel in the shape of a lobster claw was used as a drinking horn at parties!

The Met www.metmuseum.org/art/collecti...

📷 by me

#Archaeology

08.11.2025 15:43 — 👍 344    🔁 70    💬 11    📌 6

Day 6 of #Museum30 is clay ⚱️

We have just finished a 12-month Ceramics digitisation scoping project.

Read more about the project here 👉 artuk.org/discover/sto...

'Salt Jar' by Buckley Pottery (active 17th C–1946) 📷 Aberystwyth University School of Art Museum and Galleries

06.11.2025 17:14 — 👍 18    🔁 7    💬 0    📌 0

As the nights draw in, a perfect opportunity to share a piece recently sold by @ivy_house_gallery ⭐️🌛

03.11.2025 19:05 — 👍 1    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Love this 18th century plate.
In Dutch it says: "That is an unicorn".
Just in case you didn't know.
Via Atelier Able, who of course had to make a replica.
More here:
www.facebook.com/www.ateliera...

22.09.2025 16:49 — 👍 92    🔁 14    💬 3    📌 0

Portrait of a woman in a detailed floral dress with puffed sleeves, surrounded by autumn leaves in warm earthy tones

It's time for another Friday art quiz 💡🍂

We've teamed up with @arthistorysta.bsky.social to bring you a weekly quiz!

This week's theme is autumn 👉 buff.ly/RTReIT6

'Autumn' by Bessie MacNicol (1869–1904) 📷 Aberdeen Archives, Gallery & Museums

19.09.2025 11:00 — 👍 16    🔁 3    💬 0    📌 0

Oval ceramic plate repaired with gold lacquer, featuring a blue and white Japanese-style wave and landscape design with birds and trees.

Thanks for sharing some fab ceramics for the #OnlineArtExchange 💓

Next week's theme is ‘Victorian’ for Victorian Treasures from Cecil French and Scott Thomas Buckle at Leighton House

'Fukushima No. 8' by Paul Scott (b.1953) © the artist. 📷 Aberystwyth University School of Art Museum and Galleries

04.09.2025 16:30 — 👍 15    🔁 3    💬 0    📌 1

Today's @artukdotorg.bsky.social #OnlineArtExchange theme is Welsh art, in celebration of Oriel Môn's exhibition 'From the Collection' 🖼️

Here's 'Self-Portrait' c.1902 by Gwen John, from the story "Sixteen wonderful Welsh artists"

Discover more by clicking below!
artuk.org/discover/sto...

📸 Tate

14.08.2025 15:47 — 👍 13    🔁 4    💬 1    📌 0

A brilliant day one over of Celebrating Ceramics & a wonderful start to the show was my 'make mine miniature' entry winning one of the prizes! 😄
#celebratingceramics #studiopottery #ceramics

13.07.2025 19:17 — 👍 10    🔁 1    💬 0    📌 0

All packed & ready to go for Celebrating Ceramics at Waterperry Gardens this weekend 😄

09.07.2025 13:47 — 👍 2    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

Sometimes something comes out exactly as you'd hoped, a rarer occurrence in ceramics than you'd think! I'm so relieved & frankly amazed she survived 3 firings all ready to come with me to @potfest.co.uk Southwest next week.

29.06.2025 14:19 — 👍 3    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0

I've been trying to ease myself back in, but I've really struggled to focus. My first attempt after dad's funeral, I managed to smash whilst tidying it up so I decided just to make something for the hell of it. It probably won't survive but I'm glad I pushed it.

18.05.2025 07:06 — 👍 3    🔁 0    💬 0    📌 0