Carination

Term used to describe the angle formed when the surface of a pottery vessel changes direction, usually forming a shoulder or creating a distinct rim. The use, placing and angle of carination help to give many pots their distinctive profile, and it is thus an important visual identifier in pottery classification.

A sharp break or angle in the curve of the profile of a container or vessel, which resulted in a projecting angle or arris. On ancient jars or pots, it appeared as a sharply angled shoulder dividing the neck from the body of the vessel. It has been considered to be a purely stylistic feature derived from metal prototypes, but it may also be that carinations may have had a practical function – for example, for retaining dregs from a liquid while pouring.

A sharp angle in the profile of a pottery or metal vessel.