Terracotta askos (flask with a spout and handle over the top) 300 BC

This terracotta askos, or flask, with a spout and handle was made by the Bolsena Group, a collection of potters working in Etruria. The askos form itself imitates leather wine flasks, but here the artisan has added decorative details, such as the rope pattern around the neck and the animal form where the handle joins the body. The Etruscans were known for their pottery, and the Bolsena Group was likely a workshop that mass-produced these vessels for local markets or perhaps even for export. It's interesting to think about the social life of this object: who would have purchased it, and for what purpose? Was it meant for everyday use, or for more ceremonial occasions? By studying the archaeological record, and by comparing this askos to others found in the region, we can begin to reconstruct the world in which it was made. And that is the work of the social historian: to bring the past to life through careful study and interpretation.