Apulian Xenon Ware Oinochoe

Culture

Greek, 400 – 300 B.C. 

Size

16,5 cm

Provenance

In Dutch private collection since 2023. 

Dutch private collection, collected between 1965 – 1990. With signed statement of previous owner.

Description

A classic trefoil spout oinochoe with an elegant and wide body on a ringed foot, created in a pottery workshop in the Apulia region of southern Italy where potters were known for introducing additional pigments to black glazed vessels. Thumb/fingerprint visible on the trefoil spout. It has a beautiful black glaze all around, with a motif of a big palmette on the body, in between horizontal bands, volutes and an ‘egg and tongue’ pattern on the shoulder.

Xenon ware is a specific type of Apulian pottery, named after a famous vase in Frankfurt (Beazley, EVP, p.219,1) that is inscribed with the name ‘xenon’. This type is distinguished by added matt red decoration over black glaze as we see on this object. 

With positive thermoluminescence (TL) test of samples of the trefoil spout and body. 

Condition

Great condition, beautiful glaze. Ring of the foot is not ancient and restored.

Price

€ 1600