Description

A rather large Etruscan-Corinthian globular aryballos with a sphinx body with lion head and a swan. 

An aryballos is a small, round vessel used in ancient Greece to hold perfumed oil or ointments. Athletes commonly used them in the gymnasium: they would carry an aryballos tied to a cord, pour out oil, and rub it on before exercise or bathing. The shape is usually globular or ovoid, with a narrow neck and small opening to control the flow of oil. 

Etrusco-Corinthian pottery refers to a style of painted vases produced in Etruria (modern-day Italy) between roughly 630 and 550 B.C.E. These vessels imitate the black-figure technique, shapes, and animal-style imagery of Greek Corinthian pottery

Culture

Greek, Etruscan-Corinthian

Dating

700 - 650 B.C.

Size

10,8 cm

Provenance

In Dutch collection since 2024. Lot nr 4074 from the Herman Historica Auction november 2024. Catalogue page 52. 

Ex private collection in Northern Germany, inherited through the mother from the grandfarther's former collection. Acquired in the early 1980s on the Northern German art market. With German export license. 

Condition

Assembled from fragments, areas have been repaired professionally without using paint.