Cupformeds

Cupformeds are a category of ceramic vessels defined by their cup-shaped silhouette, typically featuring a hemispherical body mounted on a short foot and, in many cases, a narrow neck or lack of handle. The name derives from the form's resemblance to a drinking cup and is used by archaeologists and art historians in typological analyses of pottery.

Most Cupformeds are wheel-thrown or hand-built and fired in kilns or bonfires. Surfaces range from plain to decorated with incised or impressed motifs, slip, or glaze; sizes vary from small cups to larger bowls, with some variants including small handles or pedestals.

Cupformeds appear in multiple cultures and regions, with regional stylistic variants in thickness, decoration, and rim treatment. They are commonly associated with daily domestic use as drinking vessels, storage of liquids, or servingware, but certain contexts indicate ritual or ceremonial use as well. The form's simplicity and portability have made it one of the more widespread pottery shapes in ancient and historical material culture, serving as a common baseline for comparative studies of exchange and technology.

The study of Cupformeds helps archaeologists infer production techniques, resource access, trade networks, and social practices surrounding drinking, feasting, and ritual life. Cataloging variants and correlating them with settlement patterns supports broader reconstructions of cultural chronology and interaction.