South Italian Pottery Black Gloss Ware Lidded Pyxis

Inv. No.: 95.041
Provenance: South Italy (Metaponto)
Date: 4th century BC
Height: 121 mm (with handles)
Diameter: 91mm
 
A small black pyxis or lebes gamikos with vertical moulded ribbing decorating the sides of the body and the shoulder. The body is a rounded ovoid shape and the shoulder is flat and slightly depressed. The body is set on a foot with a flaring stem and a grooved disc base. Two moulded ridges and three grooves decorate the top of the stem and there is a groove near the outer edge of the upper surface of the base. The high vertical strap handles are set on the outer edge of the shoulder. One handle still has a raised knob at the top of the arch; the other has broken off. There is a raised rim around the central opening over which the lid is placed. The lid has a flat top decorated with circular grooves and straight sides with a ridge around the bottom edge. In the centre is a conical knob offset from a flaring cylindrical stem. The vase is worn and chipped (revealing orange clay). Part of the edge of the lid has fired red.

Function:
A small lidded container, perhaps used for cosmetic or funerary purposes.

Manufacture:
A wheel-thrown and turned vase with hand-made handles and moulded decoration.

Comparanda:
Breitenstein, N. and K. Friis Johansen, Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum, Danemark 7, Copenhague 7 (1955), IV, Plate 279, 5 and 6 (shapes; no ribbing).

Green, J. R., Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum, USA 22, Philadelphia 1 (1986), Plate 39, 8 (ribbed Gnathia ware example; similar shape, but less elegant).

Ingen, W. van, Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum, USA 3, Michigan 1 (1933), III, IV, Plate XVIII, 35 (plainer shape; no ribbing).

Mayence, F. and V. Verhoogen, Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum, Belgique 3, Bruxelles 3 (1949), IV E, Plate 3, 34 (very similar shape; no ribbing).

Mayer-Emmerling, S. and U. Vedder, Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum, Deutschland 66, Frankfurt am Main 4 (1994), Tafel 57, 11-12 (similar shape without ribbing; Attic?).