Details

LOT 0059

Greek Attic Black-Figure Vessel

LATE 6TH-5TH CENTURY BC

14" (2.4 kg, 36cm).

An Attic black-figure neck-amphora with triple-reeded handles, everted echinus lip and torus foot; to the neck, palmette-lotus chain with twisted links and glazed line above and below; to the shoulder, enclosed tongue pattern interrupted at the handles; beneath each handle, four palmettes and one hanging lotus bud, with two small horizontal buds at the intersection of the tendrils; beneath the figures, two glazed lines, a band of greek key pattern, a band of lotus buds, alternately open and closed and a band of rays above the foot; side A: a gymnasium scene with four nude male figures, each with inscribed muscular definition and a fillet to the head; the central pair consisting of one smaller figure standing on the other's raised foot, both hands held in preparation for a jump; to either side a male figure striding away, the right holding a spear, both with heads turned towards the central pair; side B: a quadriga seen from the front, the pole horses facing and the trace horses looking away; a bearded charioteer and a warrior in a lofty visored helmet and spears.

Provenance

Property of a West London lady; previously in an old European collection; accompanied by a copy of an Oxford Authentication Thermoluminescence analysis report number N118h20, dated 17 July 2018.

Literature

Cf. British Museum, 1837,0609.56 for type.

Footnotes

Black-figure pottery was developed in the early 7th century BC, by applying figural and ornamental motifs with a slip that turned black during the firing process. After firing, detail was added with finely incised lines. The subsidiary designs on this neck-amphora, featuring lotus buds, palmettes and a band of rays to the bottom, are typical of vessels from this period across the Greek world and particularly in Attica. A neck-amphora in the British Museum, attributed to the Antimenes painter, shares not only this patterning, but also the quadriga scene found on side B of this vessel, with the addition of white slip for the charioteer's chiton. The figural scene on side A of this vessel depicts the world of the gymnasium, highlighted by the nude, athletic male bodies and the jump anticipated by their stance. The gymnasium was an important institution throughout the Greek world, where young men (epheboi) were trained to become warriors and is often featured on vases of this type.

CONDITION