This amphora or jug has a silhouette shaped like a woman with her hands on her hips, wearing a long, flared-out skirt. The design was used in ancient Greece for pottery storage jars, the neck being narrower than the body. According to reports, this amphora was discovered in 1934 by Joe O'Keeffe, in a sand blowout, or sand hummocks, west of Levy's Point, west of Warrnambool, while he was planting marram grass for Mr Duncan. An article in the Warrnambool Standard newspaper of December 21, 1985, states that the amphora may be linked to the wooden sailing ship called the Mahogany Ship (also called the Ancient Wreck). Thermoluminescence testing indicates the relic was made in the mid-to-late 19th century, and experts suggest it was of North African origin. The presence of the amphora in the dunes, and the amphora itself, is still a mystery. The amphora was donated to Flagstaff Hill on a long-term loan by the Duncan family and displayed to the public for the first time on December 21, 1985. The exhibition continued until February 2023, when the objects on display in the Assistant Lighthouse Keepers Cottage (Shipwreck Museum) were returned to storage to rest, and the redevelopment of the Cottage began. A search for members of the Duncan Family was undertaken by Flagstaff Hill and stakeholders to resolve the loan term, but the family at that time was unknown. As such, to properly care for the amphora, it has been registered until ownership can be determined. The amphora is currently on display in the Great Circle Gallery, where members of the Duncan family recognised it and have since made contact with the museum. The amphora's presence in the hummocks remains an intriguing and tantalising mystery, yet to be solved!The amphora is significant for the mystery it holds. Its origin and connection with the local area have led to local speculation since it was discovered in 1934. Amphora or jug; earthenware, orange clay with areas of cream. The vessel has a wide mouth, a deep lip, two opposing handles between the neck and shoulder, and a bulbous body. The curved handles have a design of six bands between them. There are three rings of small dots encircling the body. The underside has concentric circles in the clay, an uneven edge and pinhole markings. The amphora is kindly on loan from the Duncan family.Pinhole patterns: [3 holes above 3 holes] opposite [3 holes above 3 holes], 1 hole] [ 1 hole above 2 holes] flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, amphora, jug, mahogany ship, ancient wreck, joe o'keefe, duncan, thermoluminescence, north africa, levy point, pottery, storage jar, flagstaff hill, maritime museum, maritime village, shipwreck artefact, relic, shipwreck museum, pottery jar, ancient jar, egyptian water pot, greek jar, ceramic jar, mystery, exotic jar, mystery antique, historic jug, 1934, joe o’keefe, marshall duncan, port fairy, 1935, 1985, marshall mckenzie duncan, mac duncan, duncan family, 1981, dan madden, scientific investigation, scientific analysis, scientific dating, north african origin, mid-late 19th century, marram grass, levy’s point

Cypriot Bichrome Ware from Cypro-Geomteric PeriodWith two black bands around the inside of the mouth, the rim with sets of trapezoids and painted around edge, over a red band in cavetto under rim, the neck with frieze containing a panel centred with chequerboard diamond, the central square within painted red, broad band to shoulder, a black wavy line between painted twin horizontal loop handles (one missing), the lower body as a single band with a set of lines below it, foot painted. cypriot

Cypriot Bichrome Ware from Cypro-Geometric PeriodThe inside of the mouth painted with red and black lines, the rim painted outside, the tapering neck with frieze of concentric circles between horizontal lines and bands, continuing over shoulder, the body with two friezes of concentric circles divided by two lines between painted horizontal twin loop handles, over a set of horizontal lines between bands, set of three bands on lower body. cypriot

Cypriot Bichrome Ware from Cypro-Geometric/Cypro-Archaic PeriodShort neck with pairs of concentric circles between black lines and red bands, continuing to shoulder and below twin vertical loop handles with three vertical stripes and flanked by vertical elliptical strokes, the panels centred with vertical pair of concentric circles between columns of four smaller concentric circles, the lower body with red bands between black lines and bands. cypriot

Cypriot Bichrome Ware from Cypro-Geometric/Cypro-Archaic PeriodBlack bands are found on the interior and under the rim. The tapered neck has two red bands. The twin loop handles are painted with a wavy line between each side and two bands are found on the lower body. cypriot

Cypriot White Painted Ware from Cypro-Geometric/Cypro-Archaic PeriodThe inside of the mouth has two dark black bands, the rim has a zigzag painted on the outer rim. The neck has a frieze of cross-hatched diamonds. The shoulders are centred with cross-hatched chequerboard triangles flanked by wing like shapes. the painted twin loop handles have two cross-hatched diamonds. (neck chipped and heavily repaired). cypriot

Cypriot Bichrome Ware from Cypro-Geometric/Cypro-Archaic PeriodThe interior has a broad red band over a set of black lines. The twin vertical strap handles are painted with a serpentine band, rim painted underneath, the neck with wavy line, black band at shoulder, the body with broad red band between sets of black lines and band below, the broad disk foot painted and stem below. cypriot

Cypriot Bichrome Ware from Cypro-Geometric/Cypro-Archaic PeriodThe interior with broad red band, the exterior is painted to the twin vertical double ribbed handles, the neck and shoulder each have a frieze of concentric circles, broad horizontal black band between, ochre painted horizontal line centred over circles, a broad red band between, black bands on body, red band over lower body and foot. cypriot

Cypriot White Painted Ware from Cypro-Archaic PeriodThe inside of the rim and the round of the mouth are painted. The neck has two friezes of circles separated by lines, two bands above and below and a set of lines on the shoulder. The body has columns of concentric circles painted between the twin-looped handles, another set of horizontal lines below. cypriot

Cypriot White Painted Ware from Cypro-Archaic PeriodThe rim with black strokes, painted on the exterior under the rim, twin vertical strap handles painted with zigzag lines, each side of neck centred with panel of vertical cross-hatched diamonds and triangles flanked by sets of vertical lines between two panels of double cross lines flanked by sets of vertical lines, the body with horizontal lines and bands, single band on lower body, foot painted. cypriot

Voorraadpot made in Rotterdam by JM de Hoop and son. Used for storing preserved food eg. sauerkraut.Grey stoneware pot, amphora shape, blue ring above written inscription, two handles with blue markings. JM de Hoop & Zoon Rotterdam. On opposite side, circular brand with Fabrieks Merk depicting hope and anchorkeulse pot, storage pot

Peter Minko is a ceramic artist based in Bendigo, Victoria. His hand-thrown works using a fine porcelain body are usually a combination of burnished and bisque-fired ith hand-painted metallic oxides and sometimes fired a third time to apply gold or platinum to the design. He began potting in 1977 and has built a strong reputation as a porcelain artist, with work being commissioned by the Federal Government for official presentations and his designs being used by Australian Fine China for a range of dinnerware. Hand thrown, burnished porcelain vase. Amphora shape with lip and thin neck. Heavily decorated with checked gold and cream under pattern overlaid with a combination of decals and hand painted gum leaf and pink blossom design. Interior glazed with tenmoku glaze. Minko / (signature) / Bendigo / Australia / 2000

Peter Minko is a ceramic artist based in Bendigo, Victoria. His hand-thrown works using a fine porcelain body are usually a combination of burnished and bisque-fired ith hand-painted metallic oxides and sometimes fired a third time to apply gold or platinum to the design. He began potting in 1977 and has built a strong reputation as a porcelain artist, with work being commissioned by the Federal Government for official presentations and his designs being used by Australian Fine China for a range of dinnerware. Hand thrown, burnished, porcelain vase. Amphora shape with swirling design which flows around the body of the vase from base to top. Short necks with wide shoulder and rounded body with foot. Decoration is a combination of decals and hand painted elements. Heavily gilded. Interior glazed with tenmoku.Minko / (signature) / Bendigo / Australia / 2001

Cypriot Bichrome Ware from Cypro-Geometric PeriodThe neck and body with horizontal dark and light black lines and bands, the body with a frieze of concentric circles between painted twin horizontal loop handles (one missing). cypriot

Cypriot Bichrome Ware from Cypro-Geometric PeriodBlack band around mouth and exterior of rim, triangles alternating with blank panels on rim, the neck with red band over sets of black lines and bands, a central crosshatched panel flanked by vertical lines, the shoulder with frieze of triangles flanked by lines, alternating with zigzag panels flanked vertical lines, a wavy black line between painted twin horizontal loop handles over three bands, single band on lower body, foot painted. cypriot

Cypriot White Painted Ware from Cypro-Geometric PeriodThe neck with frieze of dark brown crosshatched diamonds flanked by three vertical lines alternating with blank panels, bands above and below, two bands on shoulder, and two columns of crosshatched diamonds flanked by three vertical lines and blank panels, between painted twin horizontal loop handles, bands above and below, single band on lower body. cypriot

Cypriot Bichrome Ware from Cypro-Geometric/Cypro-Archaic PeriodTwo black bands on interior, the rim with three sets of line, the neck shoulder and body with broad red band between sets of three narrow bands, neck with black band at top and bottom, the painted horizontal twin loop handles with two horizontal back wavy lines between, a broad red band between horizontal lines on lower body, single band below, foot painted. cypriot

Cypriot Bichrome Ware from Cypro-Geometric/Cypro-Archaic PeriodBlack band and set of lines painted on interior, the rim with horizontal red band between sets of black lines, shoulder with another set of horizontal black lines, the painted horizontal twin loop handles with frieze of concentric circles on each side between, a set of horizontal lines between two bands below, single band on lower body, foot painted. cypriot

Cypriot Bichrome Ware from Cypro-Geometric/Cypro-Archaic PeriodThe rim painted black, a horizontal line around the interior, the neck centred with wavy line between horizontal lines, two red bands, black band at bottom, shoulder with two red horizontal lines above set of black lines within two bands, the painted horizontal twin loop handles with frieze of three concentric circles on each side, over set of horizontal lines with bands, lower body with two horizontal red lines, single black band below. cypriot

Cypriot Bichrome Ware from Cypro-Geometric/Cypro-Archaic PeriodThe painted interior with a set of black horizontal lines, the rim with sets of trapezoids within lines, the outer rim painted, the neck with black band at top and bottom centred with red band between sets of horizontal black lines, another set of narrow bands on shoulder, the painted twin horizontal loop handles with horizontal wavy line between on each side, over a set of lines between bands. cypriot

Cypriot Bichrome Ware from Cypro-Geometric/Cypro-Archaic PeriodThe rim painted with sets of black lines, inside and out of mouth with bands, continuing to twin vertical strap handles with zigzags, zigzag line around neck, band at lower neck, body with red band between sets of lines, broad black band on lower body, painted foot. cypriot

Cypriot Bichrome Ware from Cypro-Geometric/Cypro-Archaic PeriodThe rim with stripes, inside of mouth with twin bands, the vertical twin strap handles with zigzags, the neck with panels of double crosses between double vertical lines, bands above and below over the shoulder with swastika on each side, the body with red band between sets of lines, single line to lower body, painted foot. cypriot

Cypriot Bichrome Ware from Cypro-Geometric/Cypro-Archaic PeriodThe inside of the mouth painted, the neck with sets of lines and wavy bands, over frieze of spots, the shoulder with three red bands alternating with sets of lines, over painted twin loop handles, with red and black cross-hatched panels between, red band between sets of lines below, double lines to lower body, band and set lines over painted foot. cypriot

Cypriot Bichrome Ware from Cypro-Geometric Period/Cypro-Archaic PeriodThe mouth has two painted bands inside, rim is adorned with panels triangles. The twin vertical, triple ribbed handles, with the middle painted red between two black, looped below; each side of the neck is centred with crossed panel flanked by zigzag panels. (neck heavily repaired, one handle in fragments). cypriot

Cypriot Bichrome Ware from Cypro-Archaic PeriodNeck with red bands, brown lines on neck and body, with single frieze of concentric circles on shoulder between twin horizontal loop handles. cypriot

Cypriot Plain Ware from Cypro-Archaic PeriodWith large mouth and twin horizontal loop handles.cypriot

Cypriot Bichrome Ware from the Cypro-Archaic PeriodWide mouth, the lip with black lines extending to shoulder, above twin vertical strap loop handles painted with crossed lines, and a frieze of alternating red and black crossed staffs and concentric circles between, encircling bands below. cypriot

Cypriot White Painted Ware from Cypro-Archaic PeriodThe mouth and rim painted black, the neck with two rows of concentric circles between lines and bands, another set of lines and bands above and below the painted twin horizontal loop handles flanked by columns of three concentric circles and centred by a pair of concentric circles, traces of concentric circles on lower body, foot painted. cypriot

Cypriot White Painted Ware from the Cypro-Archaic PeriodThe interior has a painted black band, the rim with sets of strokes between lines, continuing on twin strap handles, the neck with wavy line, two bands at bottom, the body with two sets of encircling lines and broad band between, set of three narrow bands on lower body. cypriot

Cypriot Bichrome Ware from Cypro-Archaic PeriodThe wide mouth painted with bands on inside, sets of striped panels on rim painted to twin vertical strap handles with zigzags, zigzag line around neck, band at lower neck, body with red band between two sets of four black lines, single band to lower body, painted foot. cypriot