Greek Attic Red-Figure Kylix Fragments - Douris Painter

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Exceptional Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic

By Artemis Gallery

Feb 13, 2020

Set Reminder 2020-02-13 10:00:00 2020-02-13 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Exceptional Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-antiquities-asian-ethnographic-4848
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• Lot Description
  Ancient Greece, Athens (Attic), attributed to Douris, ca. 480 to 470 BCE. The surviving pieces of this drinking cup depict the interaction between adult males and youths. Such subject-matter reflects the context and occasion in which the object would have functioned; as a vessel used for drinking wine, the kylix would have been a key component of symposia, male-only drinking parties held by Athenian citizens, where important political topics and philosophical matters were discussed in a convivial atmosphere. The depiction of younger men interacting with older men also suggests a didactic context. Douris was a prolific and influential painter of the red-figure technique, noted for his fine drawing style. A lovely ensemble of red-figure kylix fragments, each presented on a custom stand. Size: largest fragment measures 3.25" W x 2" H (8.3 cm x 5.1 cm); 3.25" H (8.3 cm) on included custom stand.
  
  According to the Getty Museum, "One of the most prolific vase-painters known, Douris worked as a vase-painter and occasionally as a potter in Athens in the early 400s B.C. He is known from almost forty signed vases, two of which he also potted. Altogether, almost three hundred vases have been attributed to him. Given that scholars estimate a less than 0.5% survival rate for Greek vases, Douris may have decorated about 78,000 vases in his career. Douris primarily decorated red-figure cups, but he also painted a few vessels of other forms and in other techniques, including white-ground. His scenes are about evenly divided between mythology and depictions of everyday life. He worked with a number of potters, including Kleophrades and Euphronios, but he seems to have had a regular collaboration with Python. Onesimos depicted a cup signed by Douris on one of his vases, and there is even an ancient forgery of Douris's signature. These unusual references attest to Douris's significant influence among contemporary vase-painters."
  
  These fragments were collected by Arthur Richter. Mr. Richter lived in Oakland, California and passed away in 2016. He worked with Frank Kovacs, the coin dealer, in his office from 1978-1983, where he managed the archaeology book and print department. When he visited Kovacs, he continued his own business selling books and prints primarily in the subject of archaeology and ancient art. This business was called Archaeologia, which he operated until his death, together with his business partner Andrew Gordon. Over the years he developed an interest in building some of his own collections, including coins. He had a particular passion for Greek vases and he lovingly acquired a collection of Greek pottery sherds and fragments for many years, especially throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
  
  Provenance: ex F. Schultz, New York, USA, early 1980s; ex A.S. Richter collection, California, USA (see more about Mr. Richter in the description above)
  
  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.
  
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  #152759

  Condition

  Fragments from a larger vessel as shown. Normal surface wear commensurate with age; however, the imagery is still very good. Scattered deposits grace the surfaces.
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