Greek Campanian Pottery Hydria w/ Satyr, TL Tested

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Exceptional Antiquities Ethnographic Fine Art...

By Artemis Gallery

Mar 24, 2022

Set Reminder 2022-03-24 10:00:00 2022-03-24 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Exceptional Antiquities Ethnographic Fine Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-antiquities-ethnographic-fine-art-9057
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• Lot Description
  Ancient Greece, Magna Graecia, Southern Italy, Campania, near present-day Ignazia, ca. 340 to 320 BCE. A spectacular pottery hydria from the Greek territories of ancient Italy, meticulously hand-painted with red-figure decoration of a dancing satyr. Boasting a lustrous coat of black glaze, the elegant vessel presents a sophisticated silhouette with a bulbous body, a round shoulder, a slender neck, and a flared rim, all sitting upon a tiered, discoid foot. A pair of horizontal handles flank the wide shoulder, each gracefully curving upwards, while a vertical handle of tubular form connects neck to shoulder edge in an elegant arch. The side opposite the vertical handle boasts a lovely decoration of a satyr posed dynamically as he steps left while looking right and stretches out both arms to hold a hand drum known as a tympanum on one side of his body and a large ball painted with a cross motif in the other. Size: 5" Diameter x 7.4" H (12.7 cm x 18.8 cm)
  
  Shown nude, the mythical figure displays a muscular body with delineated genitalia and a horse-like tail that extends from his posterior. A shaggy beard and coiffure frame his face, which presents an expressive visage of sizeable eyes beneath a thin brow, a bulbous nose, and a down-turned mouth. Fugitive white pigments have been carefully applied to add further detail to the scene, such as in the tassels of the tympanum, the floral crown atop the satyr's head, and the beaded sash that diagonally crosses his broad chest. The celebratory scene is flanked by swirling palmettes on either side, as well as horizontal rows of tongue motif above and below, while the same tongued pattern also decorates the area of the rim just above the scene.
  
  Characterized by their ribaldry, satyrs are known for their lascivious and inebriated behaviors, as well as their loves of wine, music, dancing, and women. As such, they were frequent companions of Dionysus (Roman Bacchus), the god of wine, fertility, and religious ecstasy, as well as the perfect decorative motif for drinking vessels, like this example.
  
  Hydria frequently appear in scenes of women carrying water from fountains, which was one of the duties of women during this time period. The two handles at the sides were used for lifting, while the handle at the back was used to dip and pour. However, scholars posit that bronze examples were not intended to be utilitarian, but rather were used solely in a funerary setting. Please note that while the term "kalpis" is used rather frequently as an interchangeable term for "hydria," a hydria can only be a kalpis if it lacks the vertical handle on the verso.
  
  This piece has been tested using thermoluminescence (TL) analysis and has been found to be ancient and of the period stated.
  
  Provenance: private Dodge collection, Superior, Colorado, USA; ex-Arte Primitivo Gallery, New York City, USA, September 14th, 2017, lot 298; ex-collection of Mr. and Mrs. Dalen Bayes; ex-Fragments of Time, Medfield, Massachusetts; ex-Ariadne Gallery, New York, USA
  
  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.
  
  #170593

  Condition

  Vertical handle reattached with light restoration and repainting over break lines. Chip to rim. Some minor areas of repainting. A few expected nicks. Otherwise, excellent with impressive remaining pigments and detail. TL holes to underside of foot and rim.
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