Greek black-glaze fish plate, Athens, c.375 BC
Terracotta
Height: 4.4cm, diameter: 20.2cm
10309
Footed plate with deep, overhanging vertical rim, the upper surface sloping down towards the central depression. The incised bands around rim and central depression are reserved and with a red...
Footed plate with deep, overhanging vertical rim, the upper surface sloping down towards the central depression. The incised bands around rim and central depression are reserved and with a red wash, as is the resting surface of the short conical foot and the convex cushioned underside, the latter with a series of fine concentric circles in black glaze. A section of the lip reattached, some chips to surface, one larger to the foot, incrustation in particular where the foot joins the underside.
This distinctive shape is referred to as a ‘fish plate’ because it is more commonly decorated in red-figure with fish, shells and sea creatures; most of these examples hail from southern Italy. It has been thought that the central depression was either used to contain a pungent fish sauce that was very popular in antiquity, or as a place for liquid to pool. The shape was developed c.400BC and continued well into the Hellenistic Period.
This distinctive shape is referred to as a ‘fish plate’ because it is more commonly decorated in red-figure with fish, shells and sea creatures; most of these examples hail from southern Italy. It has been thought that the central depression was either used to contain a pungent fish sauce that was very popular in antiquity, or as a place for liquid to pool. The shape was developed c.400BC and continued well into the Hellenistic Period.