Attic Pottery Black-Figure Ware Band Cup or Kylix
Inv. No.: 68.001
Provenance: Attica
Date: c. 530 BC
Height: 137mm
Diameter: 218mm
A large cup or kylix with a lip that gently curves inwards before smoothly passing into a rounded bowl. This is set on a foot that has a long stem and a flat, disc base. Handles, round in cross section, are placed symmetrically on either side of the bowl and curve up beside the lip. The main colour is black with some red reserved areas, in particular a red band at the level of the handles, hence the name "band cup". The black figure decoration is placed on this band. There is a similar scene on each side of the cup, consisting of a central pair of wrestlers flanked by their trainers and attendants arranged to form a balanced pattern. There are palmettes near the handles. Band cups date from the period c. 550-520 BC. The vase is in good condition and has been assembled from a number of fragments. There is some wear, especially on the handles and lip.
Function:
A drinking cup which may have been a prize in an athletic contest.
Manufacture:
The bowl and foot were individually thrown and turned before being grooved and joined with slip as they began to harden. The handles were shaped by hand.
Decoration:
- The top of the lip is reserved and the exterior is painted black. The outsides of the handles are also black.
- The reserved band at the level of the handles has similar scenes on each side of the vase. There is a central pair of naked wrestlers who are shown gripping hands and stepping towards each other. Drapery hangs from the upper edge of the reserved band. Behind each wrestler is a naked attendant with one leg outstretched, holding drapery. An upright, dressed figure stands on each outer edge of the scene. All figures are shown in profile, facing towards the centre. Upright palmettes, which are linked to the base of the handles by a tendril, complete the decoration of the band frieze. Added red is used for hair, drapery and the heart and alternate segments of the palmettes. Crude incision gives some details of anatomy and is used to outline the palmette segments.
- The bottom of the bowl is painted black except for a red reserved band about a third of the way between the band frieze and the top of the foot.
- The foot is painted black except for the outer edge of the base which is reserved.
- The interior of the bowl is black except for a reserved central disc which has a narrow black ring near the centre.
Bibliography:
Beazley, J. D., "Little Master Cups", Journal of Hellenic Studies, 52 (1932), 187-191. , 55 (June 1968), 705.
Folio
Kanowski, M.G., The Antiquities Collection, catalogue, Department of Classics and Ancient History, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, 1978, 10-11.
Comparanda:
Boardman, J., Athenian Black Figure Vases, London, Thames and Hudson, 1991, Fig. 70 (similar scene on a fragment of a band cup painted by Lydos).
Fellmann, B., Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum, Deutschland 57, München 11 (1989), Tafel 31, 5-7, Tafel 32, 1-4, 6 (two cups with similar scene of wrestlers flanked by attendants).
Green, J. R. and B. Rawson, Antiquities, catalogue, Classics Department Museum, The Australian National University, Canberra, 1981, Inv. No. 76.08, p. 31.
Hoppin, J. C. and A. Gallatin, Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum, USA 1 (1926), Hoppin Plate 4, 14 (similar cup with scene of boxers flanked by trainers).
Mayence, F., Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum, Belgium 1, Fascicule 1 (1926), III H e, Plate 2, 5 a and b (similar scene on a band cup).