Details

LOT 1058

Greek Large Decorated Bowl Basin

APULIAN, 4TH CENTURY BC

17 1/4" (3.5 kg, 44 cm).

An impressive Magna Graecian red-figure ceramic basin or serving bowl, similar to a stemless kylix in profile; with a short, circular pedestal foot; the bowl decorated to the interior rim with a delicately painted undulating pattern of white flowers; to the centre, in red, the image of a seated woman, holding a sceptre or ornate mirror in her right hand, wearing a diaphanous peplos and white shoes, a string of beads to the neck; her hair dressed in a decorated sakkos; a small tree in the foreground; the exterior of the bowl with, to one side, a scene of a woman similarly dressed, also with a sceptre or mirror in her hand, seated to face Hermaphroditus, an alabastron in his left hand, handing her a string of beads; his wings with white highlights and feathers delineated in black; wearing bracelets and anklets, the feminine hair dressed in a sakkos; to the left, a standing woman wearing a peplos, leaning against a column; her arms outstretched; a platter in her right hand, a scarf or ribbon in her left; the figures flanked by groups of three palmettes; to the opposite side, Hermaphroditus, striding, carrying an ornate fan and sceptre or mirror; turning to face him, a female, perhaps Demeter, diaphanously draped, carrying a staff topped with an ear of corn, and an offering plate; a band of meander patterning below; the everted rim unglazed, with two low black-glazed loop handles, each with a central knop fashioned as a rosette; a similar knop either side of each handle.

Provenance

Ex German private collection; ex Deen collection.

CONDITION