Greek black-glaze ribbed lekythos, Athens, mid 4th century BC
Terracotta
Height 20.2cm, diameter 7.9cm
11143
Further images
The elongated ovoid body has vertical ribs and a cushioned base with triple-ribbed moulding on the outer edge, and a moulded, cushioned underside. The strap handle arches from the shoulder...
The elongated ovoid body has vertical ribs and a cushioned base with triple-ribbed moulding on the outer edge, and a moulded, cushioned underside. The strap handle arches from the shoulder to the top of the neck, which is surmounted by a funnel lip with slightly rounded rim. Very fine lines in added red enliven the outside edges of the handle, the flaring collar at the base of the neck, the join between neck and mouth, and the inner and outer edges of the rim.
Intact, some minor losses to the added red, traces of incrustation to the inside of the neck and handle.
This vase is very rare, both in terms of the added red decoration and the finesse of the shape and ribbing.
The term lekythos (pl. lekythoi) comes from antiquity, and the Athenians seem to have used it to describe any small vessel that held precious oils. The shape appears around 590BC, when it was decorated in the black-figure technique. The form and decoration developed over the years, and those of plain black glaze were the most durable and as such appear to have had an everyday use at baths and gymnasia as well as in funerary offerings. The shape is characterised by a long cylindrical body that tapers gracefully to the base, a narrow neck, a vertical loop handle and a funnel mouth.
Intact, some minor losses to the added red, traces of incrustation to the inside of the neck and handle.
This vase is very rare, both in terms of the added red decoration and the finesse of the shape and ribbing.
The term lekythos (pl. lekythoi) comes from antiquity, and the Athenians seem to have used it to describe any small vessel that held precious oils. The shape appears around 590BC, when it was decorated in the black-figure technique. The form and decoration developed over the years, and those of plain black glaze were the most durable and as such appear to have had an everyday use at baths and gymnasia as well as in funerary offerings. The shape is characterised by a long cylindrical body that tapers gracefully to the base, a narrow neck, a vertical loop handle and a funnel mouth.
Provenance
Dr Louis Pradel, France; acquired prior to 1980
Charles Ede Ltd, London, UK; acquired 2012
Private collection, UK; acquired from the above