Ancient Greece, Athens, ca. 5th century BCE. An attractive Attic lekythos (oil vessel) of a traditional form with a slender body, a cylindrical neck rising to a flared spout, and a single handle joining neck to shoulder, all standing upon a discoid base. The base, body, rim, and handle of the ancient vessel have been coated in a lustrous black glaze. A lovely horizontal strip of bare terracotta adorned with a vegetal band decorates the lower third of the body, while the russet-hued ground of the shoulder and shoulder edge are embellished by a starburst design and a meander motif. Size: 2" in diameter x 5.625" H (5.1 cm x 14.3 cm)

Lekythoi were used for storing multi-purpose oils in the Classical World. While larger examples were usually designated for keeping olive oil, smaller, more delicate examples, like this one, were reserved for the bath to store precious sweet and floral aromatic ointments. This beautiful vessel was most likely created for an elegant lady's toilette.

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex Mark and Lottie S. collection, Hartsdale, New York, USA, acquired in the 1950s to 1960s

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#163878

Pair of collection labels on base. Base reattached with break lines and adhesive visible. Small area of loss on edge of base. Chips, nicks, and abrasions throughout, all commensurate with age. Otherwise, very nice with impressive remaining pigments and lovely earthen deposits on interior.