South Italian Pottery - Black Gloss Ware: Calene Ware Black Gloss Guttus
Inv. No.: 82.025
Provenance: South Italy
Date: 4th century BC
Height: 80mm
Diameter: 84 mm (bowl)
Gift of the Classics Students’ Society.
This guttus has a low rounded body with a flat, closed top decorated with a griffin in a central medallion. This medallion is framed by a grooved ring with sharply defined edges. The name "Calene ware" is used for black gloss vases with relief decoration, produced in many places in Southern Italy. The foot is in two degrees separated by a moulded ridge. The bottom section is concave in profile and has a beveled bottom edge. A nearly vertical spout is set on the shoulder. It has a slightly flaring profile and a flanged mouth with two deep grooves. At ninety degrees to this, also on the shoulder, is a strap ring-shaped handle with two very shallow grooves on its outer surface. On the body is a moulded pattern of fine, vertical ribs. The vase is covered with shiny black with only a few small chips missing. The clay thus revealed is a deep red colour.
Function:
Gutti were probably used to fill lamps with oil.
Manufacture:
This vase is made from wheel-thrown, hand-made and moulded sections.
Decoration:
- The central medallion is decorated with the profile head of a griffin facing right, with forelimbs and wing visible. It is moulded and in low relief.
- A narrow groove with fine raised edges encircles the shoulder and below this, the body is decorated with delicate vertical ribbing.
Bibliography:
Hayes, J. W., Greek and Italian Black-Gloss Wares and Related Wares in the Royal Ontario Museum: A Catalogue, Toronto, Royal Ontario Museum, 1984, 53-56 ("Calenian" Gutti). , August 1982, V302.
Seaby Coin & Medal Bulletin
Comparanda:
Bentz, M. and F. Rumscheid, Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum, Deutschland 58, Göttingen 1 (1989), Tafel 46, 10-12, Tafel 47, 1-3 (shape).
Green, J. R., Antiquities: A description of the Classics Department Museum in The Australian National University, Canberra, Canberra, The Australian National University, 1981, 65.37 (shape).
Greifenhagen, A., Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum, Deutschland 4, Braunschweig 1 (1940), Tafel 45, 6 and 9 (guttus with griffin medallion).
Hayes, J. W., Greek and Italian Black-Gloss Wares and Related Wares in the Royal Ontario Museum: A Catalogue, Toronto, Royal Ontario Museum, 1984, 88 (shape).
Jentel, M.-O., Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum, France 23, Louvre 15 (1968), IV E, Plate 16-31 (numerous examples) especially Plate 17, 8 and Plate 23, 6 (detail) (very similar griffin medallion).
Metzger, I. R. et al, Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum, Schweiz 5, Svizzera 5 (1979), Tavola 42, 23 (shape).
Palange, F. P. P., Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum, Italia 47, Como 1 (1970), (I) IV E, Tavola 6, 3 (shape).
Rocco, A., Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum, Italia 22, Napoli 2 (undated), (II) IV E, Tavole 23-41 (numerous examples).
Rossignani, M. P., Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum, Italia 46, Parma 2 (1970), (II) III N e IV E, Tavola 1, 3-4 (shape).