Greek Attic Black-Figure Amphora, Light-Make Class

About Auction

Live

Exceptional Ancient, Ethnographic, & Fine Art...

By Artemis Gallery

Mar 9, 2023

Set Reminder 2023-03-09 10:00:00 2023-03-09 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Exceptional Ancient, Ethnographic, & Fine Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-ancient-ethnographic-fine-art-12354
Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

View Full Catalog (413)

• Lot Description
  **First Time At Auction**
  
  Greece, Attic, attributed to the Light-Make Class, ca. 540 to 480 BCE. A splendid pottery neck amphora boasting skillfully painted black-figure decoration of 3 battling warriors on one side and the famed hero Achilles on the other. On side A, a fully-armed Achilles strides right surrounded by robed figures, perhaps attendants or fellow warriors, all grasping spears that add dynamic visual lines to the scene. Clad in a high-crested helmet and large shield, our hero turns his head left as though addressing one of the figures. Alternatively, side B displays 3 warriors in battle, all dressed in helmets and armor as they each hold a shield in 1 hand and a lengthy spear in the other. The central figure has seemingly fallen to his knee as the 2 others stand to either side of him, striding toward their fallen foe as they pierce him with their spears. Size: 4" Diameter x 6" H (10.2 cm x 15.2 cm)
  
  The remainder of the vessel is elaborately adorned with scrolling palmettes that separate the sides and decorate the neck, a tongued pattern above each scene, and rays with a dotted design below. All of this lavish ornamentation is nicely complemented by the elegant silhouette of the vessel, which presents a classic form of a discoid foot, broad, a rounded shoulders, a tall neck, and a pair of arched, trifurcated handles that connect the shoulders to the flared rim.
  
  Achilles was the son of the nereid or sea nymph Thetis and the mortal Peleus, king of the Myrmidons. Renowned as the mightiest warrior of the army of Agamemnon in the Trojan War, during his childhood, Thetis dipped Achilles in the waters of the River Styx which rendered him invincible, except for the section of his heel by which Thetis held him; hence the term "Achilles' heel."
  
  This amphora is attributed to a group of Athenian painters whom Beazley named The Light-Make Group, due to their light color palette. The Light-Make Group is known for Athenian black-figure vases of similar shape, often with a white ground.
  
  PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
  
  Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-private prominent Daryl Kulok collection, New York, USA, acquired in the 2000s
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
  We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
  
  #177223

  Condition

  Professionally repaired with restoration and re-painting over break lines. Visible chipping to rim. Expected nicks, pitting, and abrasions, throughout, commensurate with age. Otherwise, excellent with impressive preservation of detail.
• Shipping Info

  • All shipping is handled in-house for your convenience. Your invoice from Artemis Gallery will include shipping calculation instructions. If in doubt, please inquire BEFORE bidding for estimated shipping costs for individual items.

• Buyer's Premium
  • 26.50 %