Greek colonies, Southern Italy, Apulia, ca. 325 BCE. Each side of this gorgeous krater has a female head in profile to the left - a "lady of fashion" as this common motif is sometimes called. There is a palmette complex on the neck and below each handle, with vertical lines on the shoulders and below the rim. Rounded volutes rise from the rim. On one side, they have molded facing female heads, each white with curly red hair. At the shoulder on either side of the left (facing) handle are raised knobs. Added white and dark red pigment on the face, hair, and sakkos of each woman creates depth to the motifs. Size: 9.4" W x 16.25" H (23.9 cm x 41.3 cm)

Apulia was center of painting of this style for the South Italic Greek colonies, with half of all surviving red-figure vessels coming from that area. Most of these were produced at Taras, the large Greek polis in the region. The Apulian amphora style may have originated in Athens; it is distinguished by its huge size, with a thick mouth that spreads out like an inversed cone from the neck, which merges into the shoulder. These painted vases seem to have been highly valued and we know of many that have ancient repairs, implying they were worthwhile enough to keep even when broken. However, they were made primarily be to funerary furniture, placed around the body in the tomb, possibly to hold libations, or possibly empty. The "lady of fashion" motifs are thought to portray brides, so this vase may have been made for a recently married young woman.

Provenance: private Davis Collection, Houston, Texas, USA; acquired at Christie's New York on 12-13-2013 (lot 97); ex the collection of Barbara and Larry Holdridge, Maryland, USA; sold at Christie's New York on 12-7-2000 (lot 479); acquired at Parke-Bernet New York 1-28-1959 (lot 207); ex Gieringer Collection

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#132742

Intact, with no restoration. Colors have darkened somewhat with time. Light surface deposits, especially around the rim, foot, and on the interior. Varied deposits on interior probably relate to depositional history. Craquelure on painted surface, especially at curves.