Late 19th century AD. A large Corinthian style black figure amphora showing the sack of Troy with the figure of the Greek warrior Neoptolemos in armour, advancing forward and holding a shield before him and thrusting a spear towards Priam, king of Troy, seated on a throne with his right arm held up in a defensive posture; behind is his wife, queen Hecuba, in a long gown decorated with flowers and cloak over right arm which is also held up in a defensive posture; behind the queen are the fore part of two horses; on the rim of the amphora is a twisted rope pattern, on the neck is a interlaced flower design and below the central scene is a wave pattern. From the collection of a North West London gentleman; acquired in the 1980s. The account is related in Book II of Virgil's Aeneid. For a similar scene of Neoptolemos about to kill Priam see a black figure amphora from Vulci dating to the late 6th century BC, now in the Louvre, room 39, case 6, accession number F 222. 4.1 kg, 53cm (21").

Fine condition, chipped, handled re-attached.