Hellenistic Greek Silver Juglet | Repousse Petals, ex-Christie's

Southern Italy, Magna Graecia, Hellenistic Greek, ca. 333–300 BCE. A small silver juglet of ovoid body on a spreading disc foot, its tall loop handle rising well above the flaring mouth and secured at either end by leaf-form attachment lugs. The body carries two registers of raised ray, or petal, elements, separated by a finely engraved band of hatched lozenges and dotted triangles, with a large chased floral rosette on the underside of the base. Raised and worked from sheet, the piece belongs to the repertoire of Hellenistic toreutic tableware, where luxury plate translated potters' shapes into precious metal. Its miniature scale suits the pouring of perfumed oil or unmixed wine, perhaps at table or in a domestic offering. Size: 2" Diam x 4.25" H (5.1 cm Diam x 10.8 cm H).

Greek silver plate of the late Classical and early Hellenistic centuries survives in a fraction of its original quantity, since precious-metal vessels were routinely melted for coin or bullion; what remains comes largely from tombs and from hoards buried in periods of crisis. The Greek cities of southern Italy and Sicily, collectively Magna Graecia, were among the wealthiest patrons of the toreutic workshops, and their burials have yielded the finest small pitchers, phialai, and cups of this class.

The ray-and-petal fluting seen here derives from the gadrooned metal shapes of the Achaemenid east, absorbed into Greek workshop vocabulary after Alexander's campaigns and then echoed in turn by mould-made ceramic relief wares. The rosette worked into the underside of the foot was meant to be read when the vessel was lifted and drained, a courtesy of design typical of high-end plate.

Provenance: NYC. collection; Ex. Edward H. Merrin Gallery, Inc., NYC., acquired from Christie’s.

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Item #

73302

Condition
Some restoration to the rim and a minor 1/8” area of restoration in the shoulder, otherwise intact, overall Excellent condition.

Buyer's Premium
30%