Antiquities - ancient Greek pottery owl skyphos

G19

Greek pottery owl skyphos

£600

Sorry this item has sold

A black glazed pottery skyphos decorated to either side in the Red Figure technique with a figure of an owl standing between a pair of olive sprigs.

The owl, as an attribute of the goddess Athena, was used in art to represent the city-state of Athens; the olive sprigs represent the Greek mainland and its many olive groves.

This decoration was popular on colonial Greek vessels, nearly always wine-drinking vessels from Southern Italy (the skyphos or glaux), and these cups may have been used to toast the homeland of Athens by Greek settlers in Italy.

Greek, South Italian Colonies, Apulia 4th Century BC

A small hairline crack to the body (stabile), one handle re-attached with a small section of restoration to one side of the join. Minor surface wear as seen in the photographs.

Size: 7.3 x 13.9 cms (across handles).

Acquired in the UK trade, ex. UK private collection.

www.heliosgallery.com

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