Terracotta Wine Bottle 1935 - 1942

Al Curry rendered this terracotta wine bottle with watercolor, sometime between 1855 and 1995. Notice how the vessel swells, pregnant with possibility, and tapers to a narrow neck. This shape echoes the ancient amphora, vessels used across cultures to store not just wine, but also oil, grain, and even water, the very elixir of life. The bulbous form resonates with symbols of fertility and abundance. Think of the cornucopia, overflowing with the bounty of harvest, or the vessels depicted in Minoan art, ritually filled and carried in processions. These are not mere containers, but potent emblems of sustenance and vitality. The bottle's surface, marked with subtle lines and warm hues, evokes the earth from which it was formed. This humble object transcends its utilitarian purpose, inviting us to consider the timeless connection between humanity and the earth, as well as our ongoing dance with creation and transformation.