APULIAN RED-FIGURE HYDRIA WITH MAENAD AND DIONYSUS

Ca. 340 - 320 BC.
A stunning red-figure pottery hydria with a bulbous body with a short, splayed foot, a funnel-shaped neck with a flanged mouth, and three handles. Two horizontal handles serve the purpose of lifting the vessel when filled with water, while a vertical handle at the back facilitates pouring and holding the vase. The hydria's lip is adorned with a row of small tongues, and a garland of laurel leaves decorate the collar. Radiating lines grace the area around the lateral handles, and beneath the vertical handle, a large fan-shaped palmette is flanked by stylised plant scrolls on each side. The bottom of the body features a meander pattern with crosses. The frontal decoration of the hydria presents a maenad seated on a pile of rocks. Clad in a long tunic with her hair gathered in a topknot, she wears a beaded necklace and bracelets on both wrists. Her right-hand rests on the rock, while her left hand is outstretched, holding a large patera in a gesture of offering to Dionysus, who stands next to her. Dionysus, with crossed legs and a mantle thrown over his left shoulder, holds a large vine cluster in his right hand. For similar see, Christie's Live Auction 2056 Antiquities, 9 December 2008, Lot 105. This piece is accompanied by a historical report from Alessandro Neri, an international Cultural Heritage expert based in Florence, Italy.
Size: 350mm x 255mm; Weight: 1.73kg
Provenance: Property of a central London gallery, previously acquired on the Dutch art market; Ex. Frederik Van Driel, Maastricht 1993. This item has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database and comes with a confirmation letter.