Ca. Late 4th century BC.
A red-figure bell krater, a vessel for mixing wine and water during symposium, crafted from terracotta and decorated with white and yellow details over black glaze. It features a large, deep body with a flared rim, supported by a stemmed round foot. Two upturned handles facilitate ease of handling. On Side A of the krater, a maenad takes centre stage, draped in a chiton fastened below her breasts by a belt. She holds a casket in her left hand and a mirror in her right. Adorned with a stephane in her hair, large earrings, a beaded necklace, and bracelets, the maenad stands facing a nude man. The latter, with a mantle thrown over his left arm, holds a tambourine in his outstretched right hand and a short staff or stick in his left. A wreath adorns his head. Side B features a pair of draped ephebi engaged in conversation. A laurel leaf wreath runs beneath the rim, stylised palmettes are below the handles framed by tongues and rays, and a wave pattern encircling the bottom of the vessel. This piece is accompanied by a historical report from Alessandro Neri, an international Cultural Heritage expert based in Florence, Italy.
Size: 340mm x 355mm; Weight: 3.7kg
Provenance: Property of a central London gallery, previously acquired on the Dutch art market; Ex. Frederik Van Driel, Maastricht 1993. This item has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database and comes with a confirmation letter.