A Coptic pottery dummy amphora
Circa 5th-7th Century A.D.
With painted decoration in red and black, the lower portion divided into panels with a fish, peacock, bird, and scrolling device, the scenes seperated by plaits and double palm fronds, a plaited band above, the upper portion with dotted scale design in low relief, on a flared foot, open to the interior, remains of a cylidrical neck, 43cm high注脚Provenance:
Private collection, Zurich, acquired in 1975 when the owners lived in Cairo (1975-1980).

As this amphora is open to the interior, it was not designed to be used to store or transport contents, but possibly served as an offering, or had a ritual function.