Attic Black-Figure Skyphos Dancing Women, Haimon Group

Ancient Greece, Attic, Haimon Group, ca. 6th to 5th century BCE. A beautiful black-figure skyphos, a cup used for drinking wine, exhibiting a bulbous body, a corseted neck, and a flared rim, all sitting upon a discoid foot. Flanked by a pair of upward sweeping handles, the exterior of the ancient vessel is intricately adorned with the image of 3 dancing women, perhaps maenads, on each side. All shown in composite, the 6 females are dressed in ankle-length peplos beneath long himations and wear their hair pulled back in low buns. Sinuous grape vines, a common motif of maenads, meander throughout both scenes. The interior of the skyphos is coated in a lustrous black glaze with a petite red circle at the center of the basin. Size: 9.75" in diameter x 4" H (24.8 cm x 10.2 cm)

In ancient Greece, maenads were female followers of Dionysus (Roman Bacchus), the Greek god of wine, fertility, and ecstasy, and made up an important part of god's retinue, known as the thiasus. Translating to "raving ones," the maenads were often portrayed in a state of euphoric frenzy through a combination of dancing and intoxication - making them a well-suited motif to decorate wine-drinking cups, like this example!

This piece has been tested using thermoluminescence (TL) analysis and has been found to be ancient and of the period stated. A full report will accompany purchase.

This piece has been searched against the Art Loss Register database and has been cleared. The Art Loss Register maintains the world’s largest database of stolen art, collectibles, and antiques.

Provenance: private Vero Beach, Florida, USA collection; ex-Paris collection, France, acquired 1980s; ex-Edith Holland collection, between 1900 to 1920

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A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

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#164042
Condition Report: TL hole to base. Rim has repairs with restoration over break lines and some minor areas of additional restoration. Some nicks and abrasions throughout, commensurate with age. Otherwise, excellent with impressive remaining pigments.