A late Archaic, Attic eye-cup, late 6th century B.C.

A late Archaic, Attic eye-cup, late 6th century B.C.Kylix with a stem base, the bowl with horizontal handles set at each side, the painting executed with good workmanship, ca. 510/500 B.C. The interior adorned with a round black eye in a red circle in the middle, the remaining surface painted entirely in lustrous black. Both handles flanked on the outside by two figures of naked youths, posing in different gymnastic positions. A pair of eyes between the youths on each side, the iris painted red, the eyeball white, the pupil and border in black. Palmette décor within the handles, with lotus blossom hanging beneath. The base and stem painted in lustrous black, above which the lower surface of the bowl bears a sun burst, surmounted by a thick line, with a border of three thin lines at the top and bottom. Assembled from several fragments, however almost completely intact, with a few small defects. Height 10.2 cm, width from handle to handle 28.8 cm.Provenance: Frankfurt private collection. Acquired from Hermann Historica in April 2016 (auction 72, lot 4559). Previously in the collection of an ophthalmologist educated in classical philology in eastern Baden-Württemberg. Acquired in 1972 from the Münzen und Medaillen AG Basel.Condition: II - III