Etruscan Bronze Oinochoe H: 26 cm

Oinochoe Etruscan 6th – 5th century BC Bronze Height 26 cm and diameter 14 cm PROVENANCE: Private collection F. C. , Barcelona. Acquired in a private collection of Marvonne Chenel, south of France. 1970 - 1980. CONDITION: Nice bronze color patina. Good state of preservation, only a restoration on the lower left side of the base. DESCRIPTION: The word oenochoe comes from Ancient Greek «οἶνος–χέω», whose meaning derives from the function of the vase: “wine-pour”. This bronze oenochoe possesses a beautiful green patina with some blue patches. From a flat base it widens and rises to form markedly rounded shoulders, followed by a short, wide neck ending in a mouth with a long angled spout similar to the prototype of beaked jug 9 established by Beazley (see the Museo Arqueológico Nacional inv. 1999/99/156) . A great striped vertical handle joins the mouth to the body of the jug, and this handle forks at the lip of the vase and ends in the form of a possible reclining panther, or other feline, on each side, given that decoration with zoomorphic motifs was customary on Etruscan oenochoai. The handle ends on the body with an applique in the form of an inverted palmette with spiralling stalks which end in leaves on either side, among which can be seen the bust of a bearded man with an open mouth. Perhaps it is a Silenus, given its connotation with wine. This was a customary model for Etruscan jugs, as can be seen in the three examples conserved in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (n. 12. 160. 1, 12. 160. 2 y 12. 160. 3) . This typology was mainly produced in the city of Vulci, Civita Castellana, from where it was exported throughout Italy and to the rest of Europe. Made of relatively expensive bronze, rather than ceramic, metal jugs like this example were probably part of the tableware owned by wealthy or aristocratic individuals. Utilitarian vessels for the serving of wine, like this Etruscan oenochoe, were popular in the classical world beginning in the early Geometric period. Olpes and oenochoes were used to transfer wine from the large krater (mixing bowl) because wine in antiquity, due to its high alcohol content, was usually mixed with water in a krater to create a less powerful beverage. They were very popular in symposia. Different models of this jug were exported all around the Mediterranean, particularly to Italy, and as can be seen with this example, they were assimilated into the Etruscan culture. The general shape of the vessel continued for centuries and well into the Hellenistic and Roman periods. Etruscan art received direct influences from figurative Greek art, fundamentally as concerned the conception of the human body and naturalist depictions. This can be seen clearly in the wide production of terracotta sculpture from the 6th century BC and in the fresh colours used to decorate necropolis. Notes: - The piece includes authenticity certificate. - The piece includes Spanish Export License (Passport for European Union) . - According to Spanish legislation, items sent outside the European Union are subject to export taxes and will be added to the invoice, at the buyer's expense. These export fees are fixed on the final auction price and the tax rate is not applied directly on the total value of the item to be exported, but rather the different percentages by sections are applied to it: - Up to 6,000 euros: 5%. - From 6. 001 to 60. 000 euros: 10%. - From 60. 001 to 600. 000 euros: 20%. This export permit application process can take between 1-2 months maximum. - The seller guarantees that he acquired this piece according to all national and international laws related to the ownership of cultural property. Provenance statement seen by Catawiki.