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LOT 0016

Greek Terracotta Alabastron - Rare Form

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**Originally Listed At $400**

Classical World, Magna Graecia, Southern Italy, Campania, ca. 340 to 320 BCE. A rare blackware pottery alabastron in excellent condition! Alabastra are long-bodied vessels with flat disks for the mouth. This one has a flat base, which is somewhat unusual (they often have rounded bottoms). Incised lines and curves at the top and bottom of the body give it some simple decoration. The shape was common in Corinth, and came to Athens in the sixth century BCE. The term alabastron is Greek with Egyptian origins, and many of the oldest examples are painted white, perhaps in imitation of the stone. These were used to hold perfumed oil; scenes on painted vases show women using them to apply it after bathing. This particular example has an overall iridescent black sheen that calls to mind glass or silver objects (and was deliberately slipped to do so). Size: 2.55" W x 3.8" H (6.5 cm x 9.7 cm)

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#139789
Condition Report: Repaired at neck. Repair is very well done and difficult to see. Tiny chip from rim with light pitting and wear on surface commensurate with age. Nice remaining pigment over much of the surface.

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Time, Location
29 Apr 2019
USA, Louisville, KY
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[ translate ]

**Originally Listed At $400**

Classical World, Magna Graecia, Southern Italy, Campania, ca. 340 to 320 BCE. A rare blackware pottery alabastron in excellent condition! Alabastra are long-bodied vessels with flat disks for the mouth. This one has a flat base, which is somewhat unusual (they often have rounded bottoms). Incised lines and curves at the top and bottom of the body give it some simple decoration. The shape was common in Corinth, and came to Athens in the sixth century BCE. The term alabastron is Greek with Egyptian origins, and many of the oldest examples are painted white, perhaps in imitation of the stone. These were used to hold perfumed oil; scenes on painted vases show women using them to apply it after bathing. This particular example has an overall iridescent black sheen that calls to mind glass or silver objects (and was deliberately slipped to do so). Size: 2.55" W x 3.8" H (6.5 cm x 9.7 cm)

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#139789
Condition Report: Repaired at neck. Repair is very well done and difficult to see. Tiny chip from rim with light pitting and wear on surface commensurate with age. Nice remaining pigment over much of the surface.

[ translate ]
Estimate
Unlock
Time, Location
29 Apr 2019
USA, Louisville, KY
Auction House
Unlock
View it on