Attic Pottery - Black-Figure Ware: One-piece Amphora
Inv. No.: G3.8
Provenance: Attica
Date: c. 550-500 BC
Height: 290mm
On loan from Graham Geddes
A small Type B one-piece amphora. The lip is slightly flaring in profile, the handles round in cross section and the foot an inverted echinus shape. There is a sharp angle where the lip meets the neck; the neck then passes smoothly into the rounded belly (hence the term one-piece) which then narrows towards the base. The handles pass from the side of the neck to the shoulders. The black figures are placed in reserved panels on the belly of the vase. They are decorated with cursory incision plus added red and white. On Side A is a scene of a warrior (perhaps Ajax) with an attendant on each side. Side B is decorated with a similar scene of a naked youth armed with a spear, flanked by attendants. The rest of the vase is black except for the reserved top of the lip and part of the lip edge, the edge of the bottom of the foot and a band at the base which is decorated with roughly painted rays. The black is worn and chipped with some incrustation. There is a large chip missing from the lip above Side A.
Function:
A container, especially for wine or oil.
Manufacture:
A wheel-thrown vase with a turned lip and foot. The handles were made by hand and joined to the vase with slip.
Decoration:
- Each reserved panel has a dilute slip line at the top. The figures are placed on a dilute slip groundline.
- Side A: a warrior (perhaps Ajax) stands in the centre. He is shown in profile, facing right with a frontal torso. He wears a corselet and a high crested Corinthian helmet painted with added red. The crest has some added white. In his left hand he holds a shield which is shown side-on. It is decorated with three white balls. There is a spear in his right hand, held at a slight angle to the horizontal. The attendants stand on each side, facing towards the central figure. Each is shown in profile, standing and dressed in a cloak decorated with added red edges and white filled circles or rings. Added red is used for the hair. Incision is used to outline garments and helmet and for anatomical details such as eyes and the right hand and knees of the central figure.
- Side B: the central nude figure is standing, facing right with his right foot advanced. He holds a vertical spear painted in dilute slip in his left hand. The flanking attendants face the central figure. They stand upright and are dressed in cloaks decorated with added red on the edges and filled white circles. All figures are shown in profile. Added red is used for hair and incision for some details of clothing and anatomy. All the figures are stocky with large heads and big, round eyes.
- The reserved band at the base is decorated with rough rays painted in dilute slip.
Bibliography:
Lissarrague, F., "The World of the Warrior", A City of Images: Iconography and Society in Ancient Greece, trans. D. Lyons, Princeton, New Jersey, Princeton University Press, 1989, 39-51.
Comparanda:
Side A:
Blinkenberg, C. and K. F. Johansen, Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum, Denmark 3, Copenhague 3 (not dated), Plate 103, 1a (central warrior with round shield plus flanking attendants).
Side B:
Green, J. R., Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum, New Zealand 1 (1979), Plate 10, 1-3, 4.
Walters, H. B., Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum, Great Britain 4, British Museum 3 (1927), Plate 23, 4 a and b.