Origin: Magna Graecia Circa: 400 BC to 300 BC Dimensions: 10.75" (27.3cm) high Collection: Classical Style: Apulian Medium: Terracotta

Origin: Magna Graecia Circa: 400 BC to 300 BC Dimensions: 10.75" (27.3cm) high Collection: Classical Style: Apulian Medium: Terracotta   « Less

Pelike is the term used to describe a type of amphora with two handles, where the broadest part of the body is below the mid-point of its height. The shape of the vessel was  More »

Pelike is the term used to describe a type of amphora with two handles, where the broadest part of the body is below the mid-point of its height. The shape of the vessel was originally designed as a storage receptacle for liquids, particularly oil and wine, but it is likely that elaborately decorated examples such as this one served a funereal purpose.The obverse depicts a seated female wearing a belted peplos. In her right hand she holds a thyrsus with a fillet attached and in her left hand a wreath. A winged figure of Eros stands opposite, holding a phiale in his outstretched left hand and a bunch of grapes in his right hand. His hair is secured under a sakkon. These figures are flanked on both sides by a palmette design. The upper register, beneath the rim, is adorned with a rosette and dotted ovolo motif. The lower section is encircled by a meander design, typical of Apulian production.The reverse shows two young draped males facing one another. The figure on the viewer’s left holds a staff in his right hand. Between them hang a pair of weights, a symbol of the palaestra, or wrestling school. Again, the figures are flanked on either side by a palmette design, but the design of the upper register is different from that on the obverse. It consists of a laurel wreath pattern, while the meander design is continued in the lower register. - (AM.0017)   « Less

As the term suggests, hydria vessels were originally designed as water jars with three handles. The vertical handle on the reverse was used for dipping and pouring, whilst  More »

As the term suggests, hydria vessels were originally designed as water jars with three handles. The vertical handle on the reverse was used for dipping and pouring, whilst the two horizontal handles at the sides were designed for lifting. Despite this practical function, the subject matter of the painted decoration suggests that this vessel may have served a ritual, funereal purpose.The obverse depicts a female in profile, seated within a white painted ionic naiskos. This temple-like structure with two columns represents a tomb and actually resembles the facades of some of the richer chamber tombs in Apulia. The seated woman represents the deceased and it is thought that the decision to paint such figures in white is an allusion to marble, a material often associated with a commemorative function. In this case this theory is somewhat contradicted by the vitality of the figure, far removed from a lifeless marble statue. Wearing a chiton, she raises a fan in her right hand, whilst her left rests by her side. A fillet is also depicted within this enclosure. The figures outside of the naiskos are depicted in the more customary red-figure technique. On the left, a standing draped female wears a fillet in her hair and holds a mirror in her left hand. On the right is a naked male, leaning against his staff and holding a phiale in his outstretched right hand. The phiale and the mirror presumably represent offerings brought for the benefit of the deceased in the next world.A design of laurel and bead-and-reed motifs, with a central rosette and dotted ovolo design, encircles the neck. Below the figures is a band of meander motifs. Vertical lines decorate the rim and the handles are surrounded by the tongue pattern. The reverse shows a central palmette complex and a continuation of the laurel and meander motifs. - (AM.0019)   « Less

Pelike is the term used to describe a type of amphora with two handles, where the broadest part of its body is below the mid-point of its height. The shape of the vessel was  More »

Pelike is the term used to describe a type of amphora with two handles, where the broadest part of its body is below the mid-point of its height. The shape of the vessel was originally designed as a storage receptacle for liquids, particularly oil and wine, but it is likely that elaborately decorated examples such as this one served a funereal purpose.The obverse depicts a seated draped female, with her hair pulled high beneath a sakkos. Her left foot is raised slightly in front of the right and she holds a mirror in her raised right hand. In her left hand she holds a phiale in a movement of gesture towards a winged representation of Eros. The god wears a similar sakkos, clutching a fan in his right and a tambourine in his left. A fillet is depicted in the field above the female and a rosette hovers above the god of love. The figures are flanked on either side by a palmette design. Around the rim of the neck is a band of rosette and dotted ovolo motifs, whilst the base is encircled by the meander design.The reverse depicts two draped males facing one another. The figure on the left holds a staff in his right hand. The band around the neck differs from that on the obverse and is adorned with laurel leaves. - (AM.0020)   « Less

The wide-mouthed bell krater was designed for mixing wine with water. This superb vessel may have been utilised at a symposium, or drinking party, an occasion for  More »

The wide-mouthed bell krater was designed for mixing wine with water. This superb vessel may have been utilised at a symposium, or drinking party, an occasion for philosophical discussion as well as drinking and music.The obverse depicts a naked male who glances back over his shoulder towards a draped female. The male holds a thyrsus in his outstretched right hand and what appears to be a full basket in a movement of gesture towards the female. A chlamys draped over the figure’s left arm billows in the direction of his left leg. The fabric is aligned with the X-shaped composition of the male’s body ensuring full use of the field is made. The standing female holds a thyrsus in her left hand and bunches of grapes and ivy in her right. Her hair is arranged high on her head, beneath a sakkos. The field is further embellished with ivy leaves. The figures are flanked by a palmette design and surmounted by a laurel motif around the rim and a meander design towards the base.The reverse shows two young draped males facing one another yet separated by a palmette design. The figure on the viewer’s right holds a staff in his right hand. The palmette design appears again on either side of the figures and there are tongues around the handles. - (AM.0021)   « Less

The wide-mouthed bell krater was designed for mixing wine with water. This superb vessel may have been utilised at a symposium, or drinking party, an occasion for  More »

The wide-mouthed bell krater was designed for mixing wine with water. This superb vessel may have been utilised at a symposium, or drinking party, an occasion for philosophical discussion as well as drinking and music.The obverse depicts a draped female resting her weight on her left leg before a naked seated male, possibly a young Dionysius. The female carries a thyrsus in her left hand and a tambourine in her right. The male holds a phiale in his right hand and a thrysus in his left. His curly black hair is arranged beneath a fillet. The field around the figures is adorned with rosettes and a fillet. The figures are flanked by a palmette design beneath the handles, with the meander motif encircling near the base and the laurel motif beneath the rim.The reverse shows two young draped males facing one another, each holding a staff before them. There is a four quarter disc in the field behind the figures’ heads. - (AM.0022)   « Less

This delightful amphora may once have held liquids, such as wine or oil, or alternatively have served a purely ritualistic function. The obverse depicts a draped female,  More »

This delightful amphora may once have held liquids, such as wine or oil, or alternatively have served a purely ritualistic function. The obverse depicts a draped female, holding a bunch of grapes in her right hand and a box in her left which she passes to the seated naked male. The male’s head is adorned with a wreath and he reaches out with his right arm to receive the box. The figures are flanked on both sides by a palmette complex, with the laurel motif encircling the neck and the meander motif just above the base.The reverse shows two young draped males facing one another with their knees slightly bent and their heads bowed. The laurel and meander motifs are continued from the obverse. A disc of some kind is displayed in the field between them. - (AM.0023)   « Less

The obverse of this animated krater depicts a standing draped female, holding a wineskin in her outstretched left hand. A pestering satyr stands to the right with his body  More »

The obverse of this animated krater depicts a standing draped female, holding a wineskin in her outstretched left hand. A pestering satyr stands to the right with his body turned away from the female, as if repelled by the object in her hand. His left hand is held across his chest, while his right is outstretched towards the female, running parallel with the direction of his right leg. The female’s outstretched left arm also runs in parallel to this leg producing a wonderfully balanced composition.The reverse shows two draped young men facing one another, separated by a staff held by the figure to the viewer’s left. A laurel motif encircles the krater beneath the rim, whilst a meander motif runs in a band beneath the figures. - (AM.0024)   « Less

The wide-mouthed bell krater was designed for mixing wine with water. This superb vessel may have been utilised at a symposium, or drinking party, an occasion for  More »

The wide-mouthed bell krater was designed for mixing wine with water. This superb vessel may have been utilised at a symposium, or drinking party, an occasion for philosophical discussion as well as drinking and music.The obverse depicts the god Pan in goat form dancing to the tune of a flute-player standing to the right. Pan holds a lamp in his right hand and balances a basket and a jug on his head with his left. The musician wears a chiton with a decorated hem and a wreath adorns his long, curly dark hair. The figures are flanked on both sides by a palmette motif. The laurel motif adorns the band beneath the rim, whilst the lower border is defined by a repeating wave motif.The reverse depicts a female, draped only below the waist with a fillet in her hair. To the viewer’s right stands a heavily draped male figure who holds a staff in his right hand, whilst his hair is adorned with an ivy wreath. - (AM.0025)   « Less

Pelike is the term used to describe a type of amphora with two handles, where the broadest part of its body is below the mid-point of its height. The shape of the vessel was  More »

Pelike is the term used to describe a type of amphora with two handles, where the broadest part of its body is below the mid-point of its height. The shape of the vessel was originally designed as a storage receptacle for liquids, particularly oil and wine, but it is likely that elaborately decorated examples such as this one served a funereal purpose.The obverse depicts a draped female with her hair elegantly arranged beneath a sakkos. In her right hand she carries a mirror, whilst her left holds a kettledrum in a movement of gesture towards the naked male standing to the right. This figure wears only thronged sandals and a chlamys draped over his left arm. This cloth billows in the direction of his right leg which runs parallel to the figure’s outstretched right arm, clutching a bunch of grapes. The interplay of such parallels is widely observed on pottery from this period. A rosette and dotted ovolo motif runs above the figures, whilst a meander pattern is visible beneath.The reverse shows two draped males facing one another, the figure to the right clutching a staff. A rosette and possibly a votive plaque are visible in the field. The figures are framed on both sides by a palmette complex. The same meander motif appears on the reverse but a laurel band above the figures replaces the rosettes on the obverse. - (AM.0026)   « Less