LOT 0062

Greek Attic Black-Figure Lekythos with Fighting Hoplites

6TH CENTURY B.C.

9 in. (381 grams, 23 cm high).

The piriform body tapering towards the splayed foot, D-section strap handle and calyx-shaped mouth with flat rim; the body painted with a scene of two duelling hoplites, dressed in full armour comprising shields, greaves and helmets, dressed in short chitons and assisted by their arbiters holding staffs and dressed in long himation; the shoulder with palmette decoration and facing figures of a man and a woman with long garments around the shoulder; restored.

Old Swiss collection.
Acquired in Europe before 2011.
Private collection, Europe.

Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11815-206482.

See Papuci-Władyka, E., Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum, Poland, Fascicule 11, Cracow Fascicule I, Cracow, 2012, pl.43, for similar examples; see also a similar lekythos decorated with warriors in combat at the New Art Gallery Walsall, inventory no.1973.284.GR; for general bibliography on the Attic Greek black-figure lekythoi see Beazley, J. D., Attic Black-Figure Vase-Painters, New York, 1978, pp.463-464, 699; Boardman J., Athenian Black Figure Vases, New York, 1993, pp.114-115, fig.237.

To the Greeks, lekythoi were containers for dispensing oil. The characteristics shape of this vessel was that of a long body, narrow neck, one handle and a cup-shaped mouth. The shape was fit for the function of the lekythos: the narrow neck prevented the unnecessary loss of oil by enabling small amounts to be distributed evenly and the mouth to collect the excess. The represented scene is probably taken from the Iliad and could represent the combat between Ajax and Hector, assisted by arbiters.