Greek Canosan Polychrome Vase in the Form of a Woman's Head

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Exceptional Day 1: Antiquities & Asian Art

By Artemis Gallery

Sep 26, 2019

Set Reminder 2019-09-26 10:00:00 2019-09-26 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Exceptional Day 1: Antiquities & Asian Art https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-day-1-antiquities-asian-art-4437
Day 1 of an important 2-day auction featuring exceptional, museum-worthy examples of Egyptian, Greek, Etruscan, Roman, Viking, Russian, Near Eastern, as well as Asian Art from China, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Burma and India. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

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• Lot Description
  Magna Graecia, South Italy, Canosa, ca. 3rd century BCE. A breathtaking polychrome funerary vessel in the form of an elegant female head - her slender, oval face with a dimpled chin, full heart-shaped lips, a thin aquiline nose, and lidded almond-shaped eyes with lashes and pupils/irises delineated, a scalloped wavy fringe of auburn hair topped by an elaborate garland of six large curved leaves (perhaps laurel) - three to each side of a central rosette that draws our gaze to hers. The lady is further bedecked with floral-inspired earrings, a painted multi-strand necklace, and a sakkos decorated with crosshatched netting. This visage is surmounted by a full-figured woman standing in contrapposto and donning a tightly-wrapped himation over a long chiton with drapery folds accentuating her curvaceous body, and presenting a beautiful face crowned by plaited auburn hair. Size: 6.375" W x 18.25" H (16.2 cm x 46.4 cm)A high arching, ribbed handle joins her shoulders/head to the back of the head below as she is gathering and lifting the folds of her drapery in her right hand, advancing with her left foot, and placing her left hand behind her back. Clearly intended for a dear departed and beloved fair lady, this vessel is a poignant memorial with a striking form and liberal pink, red, blue, white, brown, and black pigments.
  
  Canosa (Apulian: Canaus) was a major center of the ceramics and pottery trade when it was a Greek polis. Its artisans produced truly unique pottery, completely different in decoration style (although not in shape) from earlier and neighboring traditions. The clay is buff, with the decoration applied directly to it without the use of slip. The open bottom of the vase signifies that this was made solely for funerary purposes. In ancient Greek practice, a bottomless vase like this was placed over a grave and offerings like wine were poured straight through it. Others, like this one, were never used but were instead buried in the tomb beside the deceased to evoke this custom. A spectacular example of ancient funerary art.
  
  Provenance: private Los Angeles, California, USA collection owned for almost two decades.
  
  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.
  
  #149934

  Condition

  Some repairs to the high handle and one of the laurel leaves has been reattached, but these repairs are very difficult to see. Minute nicks to the floral earrings. Normal surface wear commensurate with age; however, the amount of pigment remaining is impressive. Surface is also covered with mineral deposits.
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