Parthian Blue Glazed Water Vessel

With cylindrical body and broad bevelled shoulder, stepped foot, lateral squared loop handles and strap handle to shoulder, broad mouth; Side A: seated female in himation holding an offering bowl in her extended left hand; white detailing to the diadem, necklace, earrings, mirror in her right hand, rim of the bowl and elsewhere; Side B: reserved palmette motif extending to the shoulder and neck; repainted. 771 grams, 23 cm high



Acquired on the art market between the late 1990s and mid-2000s. Estate of the late Barry Paul Buxton (1944–2024), Oakham, Rutland. Acquired on the UK art market, 2025. Accompanied by a thermoluminescence analysis report no.N126a16 from Oxford Authentication.

Apulian red-figure had a strong influence on other Italian ceramics of the late 5th century B.C. and an even greater effect from around the middle of the 4th century, with potters and painters apparently migrating to Italic centres throughout Apulia, as well as to Metaponto, Paestum and other parts of Campania. Although it is most probable that Taranto was the main centre of production for Apulian red-figure, the recent extensive finds at Canosa, Melfi and other sites suggest that there were numerous Apulian centres of manufacture.

Comprising a bulbous body with narrow neck and handle to the rear; radiating petals on the neck with a band of volute scrolls below, the body showing a female in a dynamic pose, dressed in an elaborate long dress and holding a plate of fruit with her left hand, a seated female before her; attributed to the Meidian Painter; some restoration. 95 grams, 10.9 cm



Ex Prof. Dr Hans (1918-1984) and Dr Ines (1922-2013) Jucker, classical archaeologists, Bern, Switzerland. with Galerie Rhéa, Zurich, Switzerland. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12645-236462.

Dancing women are a characteristic of the Meidian Painter. They are depicted as young women, wearing Doric costumes, earrings, pearls surmounting diadems, and golden bracelets, holding a patera and (probably originally here too) a thimiaterion.

With a fusiform body, slender neck and broad flange rim, decorated with marvered feathering and spiralling trails; two lateral loop handles and a pinched lateral lug. 36.69 grams, 91 mm



Anonymous sale, Binoche & Giquello, Paris, 30th May 2012, no.124. Private collection, Switzerland. Accompanied by a copy of French passport no.0150269. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13188-249220.

Alabastra of this typology, core-formed, trail-decorated and tooled, are typical of the Eastern Mediterranean. They were diminutive examples of a shape popularly produced for perfumed oils in the Greek world. Larger forms are known in both glass and ceramics.