Attic Pottery- Red-Figure Ware: Pelike
Inv. No.: 69.004
Provenance: Attica
Date: 400-350 BC
Height: 206mm
Diameter: 135mm
This is a late Classical small pelike or type of amphora which has a sagging, rounded belly, i.e., it has its greatest diameter towards its base. The lip has a straight edge and is flat on top and hollow underneath. The flat strap handles pass alongside the neck and then curve around, beneath the underside of the lip and down to the top of the belly. There is a smooth curve from the neck to the belly and the wide base is set on a foot which is in two degrees, both torus in shape. The vase is mainly shiny black in colour except for the hastily executed geometric patterns, the red-figure scenes they enclose, and the lower section of the foot which is reserved except for some splashes of black. Black is painted inside the mouth and neck. On Side A there is the head of a woman, perhaps Aphrodite or an Amazon, while on Side B there is a stock scene of two draped figures. The black has flaked off in places and there is some incrustation. The vase has been mended with some restoration.
Function:
A container for wine, oil or water; it could be used to draw water from a well when suspended from a rope passed around its neck, under the handles.
Manufacture:
A wheel-thrown vase with a turned lip and foot. The handles were shaped by hand and joined to the vase with slip.
Decoration:
- Above the figures on each side is a short length of ovolo pattern, set between black lines on Side A and placed on a black line on Side B. A similar pattern, framed by double black lines, forms the ground line for the scene on each side of the vase.
- Side A: a roughly painted, profile view of the head of a woman facing right, wearing a saccos over her hair. To her right is a shape that may be part of a griffin head. Similar scenes on other vases usually include the head of a horse or that of a griffin and may depict either Aphrodite or an Amazon. The latter identification is most likely if a horse is included.
- Side B: two hastily drawn, draped profile figures who face each other and appear to be conversing. Both have black hair and wear voluminous mantles. Each seems to be gesticulating with one hand.
Bibliography:
Kanowski, M.G., The Antiquities Collection, catalogue, Department of Classics and Ancient History, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, 1978, 16.
Sotheby's Catalogue, 1 April 1969, No. 170.
Comparanda:
Boardman, J., Athenian Red Figure Vases, The Classical Period: a Handbook, London, Thames and Hudson, 1989, Figs. 407, 412 (depictions of Amazons and griffins, similar to Side A).
Eichler, F., Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum, Austria 2, Vienna 2 (1959), Tafel 84, 4 and Tafel 85, 4 (similar to Side B).
Kunze-Götte, E., Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum, Deutschland 26, Stuttgart 1 (1965), Tafel 34, 5-6 (similar vase and decoration on both sides).
Maluquer de Motes I Nicolau, J. et al, Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum, Spain 5, Ullastret 1 (1984), Plate 45, 1 (similar vase shape and style).
Mizuta, A., Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum, Japan 1 (1981), Tafel 15, 2 (similar to Side B).
Vos, M. F., Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum, Netherlands 5, Leiden 3 (1983), Plate 138, 5-6 (similar vase and decoration on both sides).