Ancient Greek Gnathian Epichysis

Ca. 325 BC Magna Graecia, southern Italy, near Ignazia, Apulia, A very fine pottery pouring vessel known as an epiphysis, possessing a characteristically spool-shaped base with a curved low body leading to a tubular neck and a slender spout joined to the shoulder by a high, raised handle, with applied matching animal heads (perhaps lions?) adorning the areas where the upper handle end meets the spout. All are finely painted via the Gnathian technique with (from top to bottom) a fretted band, a dotted band, a register of laurel leaf tendrils meeting a central floral blossom, a band of tongues on the upper rim of the spool form, and finally, adorning the central section of the spool, three flower blossoms, the central one flanked by dotted looped bow-like motifs - all in fugitive white, red, and yellow paint. Good Condition; 165x90mm; 6. 501x 3. 546 in; 211g; Provenance: From a private London collection; previously acquired on the European art Market before 2000.