A guttus is a small enclosed jug often with a strainer at the mouth to filter out impurities and a narrow spout to control the flow of liquid. It may have held oil to be used as a poured libation, for bathing, or to fill oil lamps.

This guttus does not have a mouth with a strainer but would be filled through the spout. Its closed top is decorated with a medallion with a shallow relief decoration of the head of the Gorgon Medusa. This type of black-gloss pottery is known as Calenian ware, named after the South Italian of Cales. Although made of ceramic it is inspired by metal vessels and imitates metal-ware shapes and decorations, while the glossy black sheen resembles tarnished silver. 

This guttus is from a South Italian tomb and it has been suggested that this shape of guttus is only used for burials.