Greece, Corinth, Rhodes, or eastern Greece, Archaic period, 600 BCE. A gorgeous miniature aryballos with three racing dogs painted in deep, earthy red running around its wide body, a tiny strap handle, and a flat, flared rim with a sunburst motif that is mirrored at the neck and base. Size: 2.2" W x 2.25" H (5.6 cm x 5.7 cm)

The dogs have pointed ears, long tails, and bodies built for speed - they are the famous Laconian hound, the swift, Spartan dog known to be native to ancient Greece, used for hunting, guarding the home and livestock, and of course canine companionship. Xenophon, born around 430 BCE, describes the Laconian hound in his work about hunting with dogs, the Cynegeticus: it should be large, with a small head, straight nose, upright ears, a long and supple neck. The eyes should be black and sparkling, and it should be tan and black or black and tan. He wrote that, when hunting, they should, "give chase vigorously without relaxing, with much clamor and baying, all coming out together after the hare on every side. Let them pursue fast and brilliantly, borne along after her in a pack, giving tongue properly again and again". You can easily imagine the prancing dogs painted here racing after some small prey.

Provenance: Ex- Collection of James Farmer, Maryland,

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#120501

Well done and almost invisible repair/restoration to handle area and rim. Tiny accession number written by previous owner on base.