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Ancient Greek Black Glaze Kantharos Wine Cup
About the Item
Greek Black Glaze Kantharos
Circa Early 4th Century B.C.
Terracotta
With old label reading ‘No. 133’
Height: 8.8 cm
This 4th Century B.C. kantharos is a wonderful example of the refined simplicity that characterises the artistic achievements of the Ancient Greeks. Its long, upper section tapers downward to meet the rounded body of the vessel, to which two handles are attached on either side, balanced on a foot. The whole surface is covered in a dark, lustrous sheen, which would have been achieved by applying an iron-rich slip to the clay before it was fired, turning it an almost metallic shade of black. This style is referred to as Black Glazed Ware, and was first developed in Athens as early as the 8th Century B.C. Within a few hundred years, particularly within the 6th-3rd Centuries, these ceramics were among Athens’ most important exports, well known, in their own day as well as among modern collectors, for their radiant finish and clarity of form. Kantharoi such as this one are thought to have been used largely for wine, particularly at banquets, or as part of ritual offerings - through this, they became one of the attributes of Dionysus, who appears holding one of these in various depictions across the Greek arts, including a miniature bronze figurine, now in the collection of the British Museum.
This particular piece comes from the collection of textile magnate Louis-Gabriel Bellon (1819-1899), who assembled one of the most important private collections of antiquities in 19th Century France. Himself an archaeologist, trained by Auguste Terninck in 1874, he conducted numerous excavations, firstly in Saint-Nicolas-lez-Arras and later in Rouen, expanding his collection of antique glasses, vases, and bronzes. After a triumphant exhibition of terracotta figurines from Tanagra at the Paris World Fair in 1878, Bellon began showcasing his collection to the French public. In 1884, he exhibited in Rouen, at the Palace of the Consuls, where his collection was celebrated as the most impressive component of the show. As well as a collector and industrialist, Louis-Gabriel Bellon was a painter, and a close friend of the important proto-Impressionist artist, Camille Corot. After his death, Bellon’s son Paul (1844-1928) continued to expand his collection and transformed the family home in Saint-Nicolas into a private museum worthy of his father’s taste and vision. Unfortunately, much of his collection was lost when the museum was destroyed in the First World War, making the near-perfect condition in which this ancient vessel has survived all the more extraordinary.
Provenance:
Collection of Louis-Gabriel Bellon (1819-1899), Saint-Nicolas-lez-Arras and Rouen.
Thence by descent.
- Dimensions:Height: 3.47 in (8.8 cm)Width: 3.15 in (8 cm)Depth: 3.15 in (8 cm)
- Style:Classical Greek (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:4th Century BC
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use.
- Seller Location:London, GB
- Reference Number:
About the Seller
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Associations
LAPADA - The Association of Arts & Antiques DealersInternational Confederation of Art and Antique Dealers' AssociationsThe British Antique Dealers' Association
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: London, United Kingdom
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 14 days of delivery.
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