Rare East Greek pottery lydion with lid

£1000

A rare pottery lydion shape vessel with its original lid and painted decoration around the body.

The body is painted with a tick pattern of wavy lines to form a "marbled" surface which is typical of this type of ware, the collar of the vessel is reserved and the lip is painted with a single brown band. The lid is covered in a similar brown glaze with the addition of radiating lines emerging from the finial.

The lydion vessel was used specifically for containing an aromatic plant extract called Baccaris. This product was widely traded but it seems that its manufacture was unique to Sardis in Lydia where the majority of these vessels have been found and from whence they derive their name.

East Greek, Lydia, city of Sardis, 6th Century BC

Intact save for very minor surface wear as seen in the photographs and a tiny chip on the lid.

Size: 11 x 10 cms (12.9 cms with lid)

Formerly in the collection of a museum employee, Oxford, UK.

CF. A very similar brown glazed and marbled lydion vessel in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (though missing its lid).

www.heliosgallery.com

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