Ancient Greece, Athens, ca. early 5th century BCE. An elegant pedestaled dish depicting Dionysos (also Dionysus and to the Romans, Bacchus) - the Olympian god of wine, pleasure, ritual madness, ecstasy, and theatre - sitting in profile on a two-legged stool, donning a long robe with incised drapery folds, and holding his drinking horn - all delineated via the black figure technique in the tondo. White fugitive paint was used to render an attribute in his other arm, perhaps a horned goat as that was one of Dionysos' sacred animals. This depiction is surrounded by concentric circles which pick up the pattern adorning the curved rim. A wonderful vessel, perhaps used to hold grapes or wine. Just imagine drinking down a tasty libation and seeing the Dionysos, the god of wine, relaxing and enjoying his fruit of the vine along with you! Size: 6.25" in diameter x 3.125" H (15.9 cm x 7.9 cm)
This piece presents strong Attic black-figure painting - a painting technique from the Archaic period. The artist first painted with slipware and then carefully scratched into it with a type of needle in order to incise the lines, thus creating delightful figures and patterns. In this case, the artist has depicted Dionsyos, a favorite subject for vessels that might have been used at a drinking party or symposium.
Provenance: ex-Manhattan, New York, USA collection, acquired in 1982 or prior
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#129521
Condition
Rim repaired from about five pieces. Foot reattached. Black glazed surfaces have acquired a stunning iridescence.