Collector gives antique pot to National Museum |30 May 2009

The donation coincided with International Museum Day.
Mr Puren found the pot in a mountain cave at Port Launay during an artefact-finding expedition in 1988. And he said Italian experts have dated it as far back as the early 18th century.
Mr Puren works as a tattooist and is also a keen researcher who has, since 1986, been involved in looking for artefacts and studying local history.

“I enjoy researching all aspects of history and natural history, such as pirates in Seychelles, flora and fauna, our heritage and artefact-finding,” he said.

He added that as a friend of the museum, he decided to donate the pot so the public would be able to see it, instead of selling it to a private collector, although he says he has received offers of up to €3,000 for it.

The pot is made of highly compressed clay and lime material, with three metallic rings and a copper belt around it.
The paintings on it have led experts to believe it is of Mediterranean origin, probably Greek, and perhaps a copy of a vessel from more ancient times.

The pot is of the kind used by sailors to store their food and drink, such as maize and wine, during long sea voyages.
This is not the first donation Mr Puren has made to the museum – three years ago he gave a painting showing his impression of the pirate Olivier le Vasseur, popularly known as La Buse, which he painted with Juliette Zelime.