Lot 66F
Ancient Greece, Attica, Classical Period, ca. 5th century BCE. A finely potted Attic blackware kylix, this elegant drinking vessel embodies the refined aesthetics and social customs of Classical Greece. With its shallow bowl, wide rim, and paired horizontal handles, the kylix was a central feature of the symposium - the elite male drinking party that blended revelry, philosophy, and political discourse. Coated in a lustrous black gloss slip, the cup's surface is smooth and reflective, with faint reddish highlights where the pigment thins at the handles, rim, and foot. The tondo interior is undecorated, leaving the black field uninterrupted - a stylistic choice favored in the later 5th century as attention shifted from figural scenes to form and finish. The exterior displays a quiet grace, allowing the vessel's symmetry and proportions to speak for themselves. The pedestal foot is flared and well-turned, giving the piece visual lift and balance. Size: 10.5" L x 8" W x 3.3" H (26.7 cm x 20.3 cm x 8.4 cm)
The underside reveals a reserved ring of bare clay around the stem and a central hollowed circle - a feature often used for stacking and efficient firing.
Kylikes like this served as both utilitarian objects and markers of cultural refinement. Their black-gloss surfaces were not just aesthetic but functional, helping mask the stains of wine while also showcasing the technical achievements of Athenian potters. This example stands as a quiet yet eloquent artifact of convivial life in Periclean Athens.
Provenance: ex-Taos Auctions, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
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#196303
- Condition: Professionally repaired with repainting over break lines. A few nicks and abrasions in areas, but, otherwise, excellent presentation with good remaining pigments.
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