Graeco-Roman Megarian Cup with Erotes

3rd - 2nd century BC. A large ‘Megarian’ ware beaker in light brown clay with moulded relief decoration, the hemispherical body resting upon a flat base with a short flanged rim; a decorative frieze set in the upper two thirds of the body, depicting hunting scenes of sinuous panthers attacked by small erotes, armed with small round shields and short swords, sinuous tendrils and foliage elements emerging from the big flower forming the base surrounding the scene, the upper part with a band of decorative ovolo pattern. Cf. Baur, P.V.C., ‘Megarian Bowls in the Rebecca Darlington Stoddard Collection of Greek and Italian vases in Yale University’ in American Journal of Archaeology, vol.45, no.2, April-June, 1941, pp.229-248. 154 grams, 12.5cm (5"). From an important London W1, gallery; previously acquired 1970s-1980s; accompanied by a positive Kotalla Laboratory thermoluminescence report No.10CM180321; and an archaeological report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato; this lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by AIAD certificate number no.10631-174283. The term ‘Megarian’ bowl applied to this type of pottery is a modern convention for academic purposes. The name ‘Megarian’ was first given to this type of mould-made relief bowl in the late 19th century, because some of the first known examples were said to have come from the city of Megara. In reality, such terracotta items originated in Athens in the 3rd quarter of the 3rd century BC, and from that point were made in all major Greek cities for the duration of the Hellenistic period and into the Roman, especially in Alexandria. This relief-decorated pottery became more popular than painted pottery during the Hellenistic period. This class of hemispherical bowl was made in moulds and was characterised by decoration imitating metallic beakers. When the finished bowl was taken from the mould, it was probably dipped in varnish or dull paint and fired. According to Prof. P.V.C. Baur, the stamps used for making moulds were not produced in every manufacturing centre of ‘Megarian’ bowls, but were made only in important centres such as Athens, Pergamon, Antioch and Alexandria, and sold to potters throughout the Hellenistic world. The fact that the edge of the bowl is turned outwards suggests Athenian production, but a comparison with the decorative ovules and the erotes on the Delian Cup (no.1913.203 of the Rebecca Darlington collection) is also plausible. However, the foliage pattern is very similar to the specimen at 2012.477.1 preserved in the MET, originating in Asia Minor which, especially in the Pergamon Kingdom, was a thriving centre of production for such pottery.
Condition Report: Fine condition, restored.