Lot 12
**First Time At Auction**
Ancient Greece, Attic (Athens), ca. 5th century BCE. An astounding terracotta column krater finely decorated with black-figure scenes of a mythological processions for animal sacrifices featuring Dionysus, Hermes, and Persephone, all with incised detailing and fugitive white pigments. Side A shows Hermes, the psychopomp and protector of travelers, dressed traditionally in winged shoes and a petasos or wide-brimmed cap, as he leads an ox to slaughter. The animal walks alongside Persephone, queen of the underworld, who was periodically led up from Hades by Hermes. The goddess wears a diadem and holds a flower bud, a symbol of her status as a vegetation deity. Bearded Dionysus, the god of wine, stands to the right, holding out a kantharos, a vessel for wine drinking. Alternatively, side B displays a pair of nude satyrs, depicted with the bodies of men and ears and tails of horses, surrounding Dionysus who again holds a kantharos, but this time stands beside a goat. Size: 14.8" W x 12" H (37.6 cm x 30.5 cm)
In addition to this marvelous iconography, the artist included an impressive decorative program. Each panel is framed by a pair of ivy vine motifs travelling up the sides with a tongued pattern above and a design of hanging lotus buds below. Another band of ivy vine encircles the rim while 2 palmettes adorn the tops of the handles. Used for mixing wine and water at a symposium, the form and imagery of the column krater combine to communicate strong messages on the relation of sacrifice, vegetation, regeneration, and the euphoric nature of wine.
Persephone - queen of the underworld, daughter of Zeus and the harvest goddess Demeter, and wife of Hades - is associated with spring as the vegetation goddess. Furthermore, Persephone and her mother Demeter were central figures in the Eleusinian mysteries. These were elaborate festivals that took place every five years. Unfortunately, scholars know little about them as those who attended the Eleusinian Mysteries were sworn to secrecy. This said, most agree that the central theme of these Mysteries was that just as the grain returns every spring following its harvest and the winter hibernatory period, the soul returns after the death of the human body, reincarnated for the next life. The Eleusinian Mysteries were not the only Mysteries of the Greco-Roman world. There were also the Mysteries of Dionysos depicted in a famous fresco just outside Pompeii at Herculaneaum (the so-called Villa of the Mysteries) as well as Mysteries of various imported eastern gods such as Sabazios and Isis.
Virtually no ancient Greek paintings have survived the tests of time. This makes the painted compositions found on ceramic vessels like this example invaluable sources of information about ancient Greek visual art. Ancient Athenian painters, including the painter of this vessel, took advantage of the large size of Attic vases which gave them more room to explore their techniques, overlap figures, present complex interactions between figures, create depth and attempt renderings of perspective.
This piece has been tested using thermoluminescence (TL) analysis by Laboratory Kotalla and has been found to be ancient and of the period stated. A printed report from November 16th, 2015 is available to the buyer upon request.
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Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010
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#177315
- Condition: Professionally repaired with restoration and areas of repainting with figures liberally enhanced. Some minor chips to rim, as well as expected surface wear, commensurate with age. Otherwise, vessel has an excellent presentation with strong imagery and nicely preserved detail and pigments. Arte Primitivo collection label on interior. TL holes under handle and top rim.
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