Askoi were smallish vessels that were often anthropomorphized, here taking the shape of a bird. They were used to refill larger oil lamps with fuel, which explains the unique look of this piece with a handle that spans the depression of its body. Some askoi contained spouts on either end for utility, yet this piece has only one in a seeming nod to its bird-like form.
This Phoenician askoi is made from red slip, a type of pottery common in antiquity, and the body’s exterior remains an earthy shade of faded red
