Ancient Jewish burial practices involved washing the body, anointing it with perfumes, oils and spices, and wrapping the body in linen. In the Good Friday Gospel accounts of Jesus's burial, it was the women who performed these rituals. Jesus's burial preparation was complicated by the fact that he died on a Friday afternoon, just as observant Jews were preparing for the pending Sabbath (which would begin at sundown). So Jesus was placed in the tomb quickly on Friday; the women planned to return on Sunday (after the Sabbath) to finish their work.
The English Arts & Crafts two-handled pot, shown above, makes me think of the type of vessel (perhaps with the addition of a cover) in which the women might have carried their ointments and other preparations. It is hand-thrown, therefore slightly primitive. The two-handled form is an ancient silhouette. And the (slightly iridescent) gunmetal black glaze is appropriately serious for funerary use, perhaps even a bit dour. It was made in the Teens or Twenties by Dickerware, in Sussex, England, not far from the Southern Coast. The gunmetal glazing is enlivened by the iridescent colors which dance across the surface of the metallic glaze. Click on the photo above to learn more about this handsome piece.
Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
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