LOT 0098

A Cycladic Marble Kandila Vase

EARLY CYCLADIC I, CIRCA 3200-2800 B.C.

3 1/2 in. (400 grams, 89 mm high).

Carved from fine marble and raised on a tall, conical pedestal foot, supporting a hemispherical body; four prominent evenly spaced elongated vertical lugs, each pierced for suspension.

with Münzen und Medaillen, Weil am Rhein, 1975, Katalog 51, no.9.
Private German collection.
Private collection, Europe.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12663-236275.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Cf. Thimme, Art and Culture of the Cyclades in the Third Millennium B.C., Chicago, 1977, pp.310-312.

The overall form is both functional and elegantly balanced, characteristic of Early Cycladic craftsmanship. The Cyclades, a group of thirty-nine islands and numerous islets in the southwestern Aegean, formed a cultural ring - kyklades in ancient Greek - around the sacred island of Delos, site of the revered sanctuary of Apollo. By the fourth millennium B.C., a distinctive civilisation had emerged on these islands, flourishing for over two thousand years. The Cycladic culture thrived due to its strategic maritime location and its rich deposits of iron and copper - vital commodities during a period of rapidly developing metallurgy throughout the Mediterranean. While existing alongside the more dominant Minoan and Mycenaean civilisations, the Cycladic people are recognised as one of the three principal Aegean cultures. Vessels such as this, known as kandila, were typically crafted in marble or clay and are believed to have held liquids such as oil or wine. The pierced lugs may have supported suspension cords or secured a lid. Often found in tomb contexts alongside marble figurines, these vessels likely played a role in funerary rituals. Regardless of their original function, kandila vessels remain enduring examples of Cycladic artistry. Their minimalist design, elegant proportions, and subtle detailing reflect a culture that placed equal value on utility and aesthetic form.