Lot 30A
Greece, Corinth, attributed to the Painter of Boston F 471, ca. 600 to 575 BCE. An opulent and richly decorated terracotta oinochoe of hemispherical form with a trefoil spout and high-arching, ribbon-form handle. Adorned in black-figure decoration, the cream-hued body boasts a central frieze showing a mythical half-bird half-female creature known as a siren beneath the spout, surrounded by 3 panthers, 2 rams, and 1 bird with rosettes in the field. Incised verticals decorate the sloped shoulder, while a row of rays emanates from the base. Size: 5.5" Diameter x 7.8" H (14 cm x 19.8 cm)
During this time, Corinthian vessels showed the influence of eastern trade connections with the city - creating art with stylized plants and animal friezes, inspired by trade with the Levant, Egypt, and Assyria. This is known as the "Orientalizing Period." The lions shown here may relate to a hunting scene, depicting an animal that may have been kept by nobility in special hunting preserves in the ancient Near East - after all, the lion did not live in Greece at this time, but is a very common Corinthian motif inspired by Near Eastern societies. The harpy is also a common motif from this period - originally a personification of the wind, the mythological figures slowly transformed into fierce half-women, half-birds who ranked among the guardians of the underworld.
Published: J. Eisenberg, "Art of the Ancient World" Vol. XII (2001), no. 169, "Art of the Ancient World" Vol. XXII (2011), no. 105, "Royal-Athena Galleries, One Thousand Years of Ancient Greek Vases II" (2011), no. 15, and "Art of the Ancient World" Vol. XXVII (2016), no. 87.
A similar, though slightly larger (10.125 inches high) Corinthian oinochoe hammered $137,000 (now equivalent to $181,345.96) at Christie's New York on June 5th, 2014 (Live Auction 2856, lot 72).
Cf. Ashmolean (AN1884.688), Los Angeles County Museum of Art (48.24.3), Princeton University Art Museum (y1962-41 a-b), British Museum (1851,0507.9), and Metropolitan Museum of Art (590-570 BCE).
Provenance: ex-Royal Athena Galleries, New York City, New York, USA; ex-Cahn Auction 2, Basel, Switzerland, June 2000.
#190834
- Condition: Handle has been professionally repaired with break lines just barely visible in areas. Some scratches and age-expected surface wear as shown, but otherwise, body is intact and presentation is excellent with impressive remaining pigment and detail. Light earthen deposits in areas. Dipinto (painted inscription) on underside of base.
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| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $19,999 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $49,999 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $20,000 |