Greece, South Italian, Apulia, ca. 370 to 325 BCE. A large, black-painted bell krater, with a bell-shaped body standing on a narrow, tiered foot. The body is smooth, widening gently to a flaring mouth and slightly pronounced, rolled-under rim. The handles are horizontal and upturned, a style innovation from earlier examples, which had lugged handles. The interior is painted with a deep red color while the exterior is painted black. Size: 16" W x 16.7" H (40.6 cm x 42.4 cm)

Although the earliest bell kraters were made for elites, after the middle of the fourth century, they became one of the earliest known crafts produced for the masses. These also drew inspiration from Attic pottery (perhaps by emigration by Athenian artists during the Peloponnesian War), but, because they were produced by Greek colonists in South Italy, have distinctly Italian elements, and seem to have been intended solely for use in the South Italic colonies.

Provenance: private Minnesota, USA collection

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#126926

Repaired from multiple pieces, with small losses to underside of rim. Expected wear to pigment, especially on interior around the inside of the rim and on the foot.