Pottery making was an important occupation, being
at advanced level during all the periods of the history of Cherson.
There are
several mediaeval potteries uncovered both within the city and in its environs.
They produced various types of containers: stationary ones called pithoi, transport vessels, or amphorae;
tableware and cooking vessels such as jugs, pots, bowls, cups, plates, and
dishes. Ceramic pipes were used for building water conduits and when
constructing public baths.
In the middle of the hall, closer to the
entrance, there is exhibition of locally made and imported pipes,
pithoi and amphorae.
In the right part of the vitrine, there are
several examples of pottery dated from the fifth to the seventh century. There
are small oblong vessels called amphoriskoi
and red slip ware, namely bowl and fragments of plates walls with stamps in the
form of crosses and animals.
Glazed ware that replaced ancient red slip
products took a significant part in medieval pottery. At first, all glazed
pottery was imported to Cherson, but in course of time, the city potters
learned the secrets of the technology and started glazed pottery production
themselves.
At the bottom of the vitrine, there are early
examples of imported glazed ware, namely cups, plate with image of three
saints, bowl, and censer with lid.
Later on, the ware with multicoloured painting
under transparent glaze appeared. In the next vitrine, you can see the examples
of such ware dated from the eleventh to the thirteenth century. There are bowls
and dishes with images of monster birds and animals.