This gift of an Amphora, a vase with a specific characteristic shape, is from Cyprus. This ceramic vase is of white painted ware from the Geometric period ca. 700–600 B.C.  The vessel has two handles and a narrow neck. The design is commonly ""big bellied"" and narrowed at the base.  
 
The ancient Mediterranean world commonly used the amphora for transporting and storing many commodities such as olive oil, grapes, wine, olives, grain, fish and many others perishable liquid and dry food stuffs. Many shape variations were used for ancient vase painting and illustrations. Ancient Cyprus was acknowledged for both its wine and olive oil production. Olive oil was important for food, fuel for household lamps, basic ingredients for bath oils, soaps, perfumes, cosmetics and medicinal ointments. Cypriot oil was imported into Egypt, Syria and other large coastal cities and networks.  
 
Today, archaeologists use these ancient vases to identify shipwrecks, the site age, and the volumes of shipments traveling overseas and elsewhere.  

Cyprus donated the vase to the United Nations on 23 May 1970.