Greek colonies (Magna Graecia), Hellenistic Period, ca. late 3rd to 2nd century BCE. A beautiful terracotta cup, painted a glossy black, with a mold-made decorative exterior. The walls of the bowl are steep, with a slightly flared, rolled rim. Two loop handles are applied to the sides. The exterior features relief figures of women standing, draped in himations, each holding an abundance of food in one corner of the cloth. Size: 6.55" W x 4.05" H (16.6 cm x 10.3 cm)
Megarian style pottery, by being mold-made rather than thrown on a wheel, allowed artisans to produce bowls with intricate stamped designs that we believe were inspired by more expensive metal bowls. They were made to be owned by people aspiring to wealth, or least an appearance of it. Bowls like this one were used as drinking cups, replacing the kantharos.
This piece has been tested using thermoluminescence (TL) and has been found to be ancient and of the period stated. A full report will accompany purchase.
Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection
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.
#140236
Condition
Intact, although if you look low on the interior, you will see two areas where the potter added clay before the firing process, perhaps because of a fault when the bowl was being molded. Nice remaining pigment with some light deposits on the interior. Drill hole for TL on underside of foot.