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Details
LOT 0070
Greek Black-Figure Alabastron with Fish Scale Pattern, Possibly Attributed to the Bulas Group
ATTIC, EARLY 4TH CENTURY B.C.
5 1/8 in. (87 grams, 13 cm).
Ovoid shape with short neck and expanded flat rim; painted with horizontal bands with vertical strokes on the shoulder, fish-scale pattern below and running scrolled tendrils; horizontal stripes below.
Provenance
Collection of M. Bouvier, Switzerland (1901-1980), Switzerland. Bouvier was a law professor in Alexandria prior to 1930.
with Christie's, London, 7 October 2010, no.117.
Private collection, 2010.
Accompanied by an original thermoluminescence analysis report no.N125q42 by Oxford Authentication.
Accompanied by copies of the Christie's catalogue pages.
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 a search certificate number no.13008-246447.
Literature
Cf. similar alabastron in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, accession no. 06.1021.89; Algrain, I., Brisart, T., Jubier-Galinier, C., Parfums de l’Antiquité, La rose et l’encens en Méditerranée, Manemont, 2008; Algrain, I., L’alabastre Attique, Origine, Forme et usages, Bruxelles, 2014, pp.145ff.; Algrain, I., ‘Assessing Forming Techniques of Athenian Ceramic Alabastra’ in EXARC Journal, 21/3, 2021, pp.1-10.
Footnotes
The alabastra of the Bulas Group display scale-like patterns. They were painted with slip, a liquid clay which vitrifies when fired. This group is usually dated to the late 5th – early 4th century B.C. It was named after Kazimierz Bulas, who was the first to study them in depth in the 1930s. He characterised various shapes according to their decorative techniques (nets and floral patterns) and their functions.
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LOT 0070
Greek Black-Figure Alabastron with Fish Scale Pattern, Possibly Attributed to the Bulas Group
Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,340
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