Greek Attic Black-Figure Lekythos - Athena Painter

About Auction

Live

Fine Antiquities | Asian | Ethnographic Art

By Artemis Gallery

Aug 26, 2021

Set Reminder 2021-08-26 10:00:00 2021-08-26 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Fine Antiquities | Asian | Ethnographic Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/fine-antiquities-asian-ethnographic-art-7366
Features classical antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art from cultures encompassing the globe. Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Etruscan, Near Eastern, Asian, Pre-Columbian, Native American, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Spanish Colonial, Russian, Fine / Visual Arts, so much more! Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

View Full Catalog (343)

• Lot Description
  Ancient Greece, Athens (Attic), Attributed to the Athena Painter, ca. 490 to 480 BCE. A beautiful wheel-thrown pottery lekythos attributed to the Athena Painter that was finely painted via the black-figure technique on a white ground with extensive incised details as well. The figurative program features a nude male athlete standing in composite profile, with his muscular legs advancing to the right as his upper body dramatically twists backwards in order to throw his javelins, while his discus is between his striding legs. Before him is a cloaked, bearded figure who plays a double flute. The two-pronged stick crossing over the musician's body was typically used by an athlete's coach (now lost). Details of the athlete's musculature, the musician's drapery, as well as the facial features and beards of both figures are finely incised. Size: 4" in diameter x 11.125" H (10.2 cm x 28.3 cm)
  
  In addition to this figural iconography, the vessel presents a wonderful decorative program. A dotted zigzag border runs above the figures, and the shoulder of the vessel is adorned by a flowing vine of stylized palmettes with a narrow band of tongues above.
  
  Lekythoi were used to store oil used for a wide variety of purposes in the Classical World. While larger examples were usually designated for keeping olive oil, smaller more delicate examples were reserved for the bath to store precious unguents of sweet and floral aromas.
  
  This piece has been searched against the Art Loss Register database and has been cleared. The Art Loss Register maintains the world’s largest database of stolen art, collectibles, and antiques.
  
  Provenance: private Los Angeles, California, USA collection; acquired at auction in 2013 by a Swiss Collection; ex-private Munich collection, acquired in the 1970s
  
  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.
  
  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.
  
  Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
  
  #164621

  Condition

  40% of the barrel is restored. Remarkably there are repairs across the art, but the only section of art that is new is on the musician's face from the right temple through the right shoulder across to the front right pectoral up to the elbow and then up to the first half of the flute and upper shoulder. The foot is intact and has maker's mark. Thje neck has been reattached.
• 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 %