Details

LOT 0049

Greek Terracotta Attic Red-Figure Alabastron

CIRCA 500 B.C.

5 3/8 in. (125 grams, 13.6 cm).

Ovoid shape with short neck and expanded flat rim, lugs on the sides; painted with daily life scenes: one side with an older man holding a crozier, dressed in chiton and himation, the other side with a younger bearded man holding a short staff, dressed in a similar way; meander pattern above and a dotted band below; some restoration.

Provenance

with Hirsch Auction, 23 September 2006, no.666.

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.12463-228723.
Accompanied by thermoluminescence analysis report no.06280606 by Laboratory Kotalla.
This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

Literature

Cf. for similar pottery Beazley, Attic Red-Figure Vase-Painters, Oxford, 1963, no.717.230; Boardman, Athenian Red Figure Vases, The Classical Period, London, 1989, fig.62; for the shape, The Paul Getty Museum, Greek vases, Molly and Walter Bareiss Collection, Malibu, 1983, p.88.

Footnotes

The men depicted on this vessel are each holding an elegant walking stick appropriate to Athenian citizens. They both seem to be in a drunken rage, and seemingly have just left a drinking party: the consequences of immoderate drinking were a favourite subject for vessel decorations.