Pyxis

Pyxis wares were used predominately by women as vessels to hold their cosmetics, trinkets and/or jewelry (as well as other small prized and valuable possessions).  These small jewelry boxes of sorts featured a large heavy base, a circular body, and its own lid.  The squat nature of the base made them sturdy and got rid of the possibility of the jar tipping over and smashing its contents, which was often a problem for ceramic pieces at the time.  Pyxis jars were decorated with images of marriage processions, starting at the house of a young girl and ending with the house of her new husband.