Attic Pottery - Red-Figure Ware: Hydria
Inv. No.: 72.006
Provenance: Attica
Date: 400-375 BC
Height: 141mm
Diameter: 91mm
Gift of Dr Stanley Castlehow.
This small and carefully made hydria has an echinus lip with a flat top. It is hollow underneath. The narrow neck is offset from the flattish shoulder and the body curves gently down to the narrow base. The foot is in two degrees; the bottom section has flanged edges. There are two small horizontal handles set at the top of the body; these follow the curve of the vase. A third vertical handle passes from the top of the neck to the shoulder. All are rounded in cross section. Black covers most of the vase except for reserved sections on the top of the lip and on the foot, the geometric patterns above and below the scene and the scene itself. This is a rather roughly executed depiction of two women holding containers. The vase is in good condition with shiny black except for some minor flaking and scratches.
Function:
Usually a container for carrying and pouring water, but small versions like this were probably used for oil or perfume. Larger versions could also be used as containers for ashes or as ballot boxes.
Manufacture:
A wheel-thrown vase with turned foot and lip. The handles were shaped by hand and joined to the vase with slip.
Decoration:
- The top of the lip is reserved and the inside of the mouth and neck is painted black. The top section of the foot and the edge of the bottom section are also reserved, although there are some splashes of black on the latter.
- There is an ovolo pattern between black lines painted on a reserved band at the base of the neck, above the figures. The figures are set on a black ground line that has a similar ovolo pattern below it.
- The red-figured scene consists of two women, in profile, facing each other. Each has black hair tied back in a bun and wears a chiton and himation. The figure on the left holds out a box decorated with lines of black dots and wavy black lines. A garment or piece of cloth with black bands at the edges seems to be suspended from this. Above the box is an oval reserved shape. The woman on the right holds out an alabastron. A palmette plant stands between them on the ground line.
Bibliography:
Kanowski, M.G., The Antiquities Collection, catalogue, Department of Classics and Ancient History, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, 1978, 18.
Pottery from Athens 750-350 BC, Charles Ede Catalogue, 1972, No. 19.
Comparanda:
Lullies, R., Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum, Deutschland 20, München 5 (1961), Tafel 232, 7 (Tafel 237, 5 - detail) (similar style of vase with a woman holding an alabastron and a box).
Moignard, E., Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum, Great Britain 16, Edinburgh (1989), Plate 21, 3-4.
Vos, M. F., Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum, The Netherlands 5, Leiden 3 (1983), Plate 142, 6-7, 8 (hydria with women holding objects).
Walters, H. B., Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum, Great Britain 8, British Museum 6 (1931), Plate 89, 2 (similar style of vase with two women, one holding an alabastron).