Greek Cream Glass Ribbed Bottle

A pair of glass vessels: an opaque blue alabastron with white spiralling trails to base and neck, marvering between; a green-amber coloured amphoriskos decorated with white trails, knop foot and remains of one applied handle; both fragmentary. 213 grams total, 13.6-14 cm high



Acquired early 1990s. Ex private American collection; thence by descent. Private collection since 1998.

A lid from a large lekanis, composed of a domed body with inverted rim and large, tiered finial, the centre of the handle painted with lines radiating from a central circle, the painted motif to the body with areas of polychrome detailing and featuring the head of a lady of fashion to two sides, stylised shell panels between, waves around the rim; repaired. 596 grams, 22.5 cm wide



Acquired in the 1990s. Ex Cummings collection, UK.

A lekanis was a covered dish.

A red-figure terracotta bell-krater displaying polychrome figural panels between a laurel wreath and a band of Greek key motifs; side a) two robed male figures holding staffs, wearing a taenia or a band around the head, standing facing a central altar; side b) a woman wearing a chiton and holding a casket and olive sprig in her outstretched hands, advancing right towards a nude man standing right, his head turned towards her, holding a bucket and olive sprig, a cloak draped over his arm, elaborate volute palmettes beneath both handles; restored. 4 kg, 41 cm wide



Private collection, Neuchâtel, Switzerland. Ex collection H.& P. Payot, Clarens, by descent. Accompanied by an original thermoluminescence analysis report no.QED2237/SG-0201 from QED Laboratoire. 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.11580-199029.

Wide-mouthed bell kraters like this one were specifically designed for holding large quantities of liquid and to work as mixing bowls, as it was considered barbaric for wine to be drunk neat (a privilege only enjoyed by Dionysus and his entourage who could handle such a level of intoxication). Wine would be mixed with water, usually one part to three, or even more, as described by Homer regarding the wine offered to the giant Polyphemus (Odyssey, IX, 206-211). As such, kraters provided an ideal large surface area for decoration, and as wine was of utmost importance at the symposium, kraters would usually take centre place, and the decoration of such vessels were geared towards such gatherings attempting to provide subject matter for philosophical debate, like the ones described in Athenaeus’ Deipnosophistae.