Cypriot Collection

Terracotta votive figurine - Cypro-Archaic II (c. 600-475 BC)

The Nicholson Museum holds the largest and one of the most significant collections of Cypriot antiquities in Australia. Beginning in 1860 with a single artefact from Sir Charles Nicholson original donation, the collection has grown exponentially, especially under the curatorial direction of firstly William Woodhouse (honorary curator 1903-1938) and then James Stewart (honorary curator 1954-1962). Many of the artefacts within the collection were sourced directly from Stewart’s own excavations conducted at Bellapais Vounous, Karmi Palealona, Karmi Lapasta, Nicosia Ayia Paraskevi and Vasilia Kafkallia as well as from the excavations of Stewart’s former student Basil Hennessy, at the sites of Myrtou Stephania and Myrtou Sphagion. The collection has continued to grow through donations and benefactions including, for example, this archaic female terracotta votive figurine (right) donated in 2011.

Highlights of the Cypriot collection are now on display in the exhibition Aphrodite's Island: Australian Archaeologists in Cyprus

The Nicholson Museum’s collection of Cypriot artefacts spans the Neolithic to Roman and Medieval periods and includes a range of artefact types from beautiful ceramic vessels to intriguing sculptural works, stunning glasswork and fragile bronzes.

Black slip II ware Jug, Middle Cypriot III (c. 1750-1600BC)	Limestone head of female figurine, Cypro-Classical (c. 475-325BC)	Glass flask with pinched ribs, Roman (3rd or 4th century AD)
Bronze Tripod, Late Cypriot III (c. 1250-1050BC)	White Painted V Tankard, Middle Cypriot III-Late Cypriot IA (c. 1750-1550BC)	Sgraffito ware bowl, Medieval period (14th century AD)