Greece, Athens (Attic), Cook Class, Classical Period, ca. 460 to 450 BCE. A beautiful terracotta vessel with a molded face of a woman on the front, her elegant eyes and arched brows finely painted with fugitive pigment. While the wavy centrally parted fringe of locks framing her forehead are unglazed, the coiffure behind as well as the trefoil spouted handle are glazed a lustrous black Size: 8.5" H (21.6 cm)
For a similar example, see The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Accession Number: 01.8.7
According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's description, "Head vases became important in Attic vase-painting at the end of the sixth century B.C. and continued almost through the fifth. Considerable numbers of these small examples exist, mostly with the head of a woman but occasionally with that of Herakles or another male figure. Since the Greeks tended not to waste valuable materials on funerary offerings, one wonders whether such pieces contained a token dedication."
Provenance: private Orange County, California, USA collection acquired from Arte Primitivo Gallery, New York, New York, USA, ex-Rhode Island collection, ex Sothebys, New York, New York, USA, December 10, 2009, lot #82
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.
#156650
Condition
A 1” hole in the underside of base with minor restoration to stabilize. Spout and lip repaired from approximately five original pieces, with breaklines slightly visible.