Large Greek Bronze Hydria w/ Siren Applique, Ex Merrin

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Exceptional Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic

By Artemis Gallery

Feb 18, 2021

Set Reminder 2021-02-18 10:00:00 2021-02-18 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Exceptional Antiquities, Asian, Ethnographic https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-antiquities-asian-ethnographic-6373
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• Lot Description
  Greece, Classical period, ca. mid 5th century BCE. Wow! A breathtaking hammered bronze hydria of immense form with cast handles and rim, sitting upon a petite foot. The gently-curving, apple-shaped body expands upward to a rounded shoulder and a tapered cylindrical neck with an outsplayed mouth, and the rim is encircled with a ring of ovolo draped over the edge. A pair of curving, upturned handles is horizontally mounted along the shoulder; both are beautifully adorned with horizontal ridges and floral motif bases. An applied vertical handle rests behind the squat neck, featuring raised ribs running parallel to its body and connecting via a floral motif to the neck and a stunning siren bust applique to the body. Framed by a swirling abstract embellishment, the mythological creature presents a pair of sweeping wings that encompass her lovely visage featuring heavy-lidded, almond-shaped eyes, a flat nose, and a flat mouth beneath luscious locks of hair. Size: 15.75" W x 19" H (40 cm x 48.3 cm)
  
  Rich patina of viridian green and teal envelops the ancient vessel, nicely complimenting its bronze form. A gorgeous example from ancient Greece!
  
  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.
  
  Cf. another hydria with plain attachment disks and foot in the City Art Museum, St. Louis, inv. no. 169:24, published in David Gordon Mitten & Suzannah F. Doeringer, "Master Bronzes From the Classical World" (Mainz 1967), cat. No, 109, pp. 110-111; a smaller vessel published in Lila I. Marangou, "Ancient Greek Art: The N.P. Goulandris Collection" (Athens, 1985), cat. no. 260, pp. 163-164.
  
  Provenance: ex-Merrin Gallery; ex-Elie Borowski collection, 1980s to 1990s
  
  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.
  
  #162208

  Condition

  X-rays show restoration (approximately 20%) in some areas (mostly affecting lower half) with resurfacing and repatination. Upper hydria handle is missing lower half of the applique, one wing reattached.
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