An oinochoe is a type of ancient Greek wine jug, which would likely have been used at the symposium (a male drinking party). Key characteristics are the curved body, single handle and trefoil lip, which allows for the careful pouring of the contents and adds to the aesthetic value of the jug. This vessel originates from Canosa, an Ancient Greek town in the Apulian region of southern Italy. A number of polychromatic Greek vessels have been found in the region dating to the 3rd century BC, aligning with the white and red pigmentation of this piece.
To find out more about different types of Greek vessel please see our relevant blog post: Collecting Greek Vases.