Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 5

Attic Black Figure Skyphos

About the Item

A black-figure skyphos skillfully crafted from fine reddish clay. The body of the skyphos rises gracefully from a slightly splayed foot, gradually widening towards the mouth. The vessel is adorned with two handles on either side. The inside of the skyphos is coated with a black glaze, adding a contrasting element to the overall design. On both sides of the vessel, a captivating scene is depicted in the black-figure technique. The scene portrays a dancing female figure at the centre, surrounded by two youths engaged in lively dancing motions. The scene is framed by seated sphinxes, with their backs turned away from the dancers, forming a decorative border. The foot, base, rim, and handles of the skyphos are accentuated with black pigment. Skyphoi were used during symposia, Greek social gatherings where men would engage in drinking, intellectual discourse, and entertainment. The wide-mouthed design of the skyphos allowed for easy access to its contents, typically wine. The handles provided a comfortable grip for the participants, facilitating the communal drinking experience. Beyond their practical function, skyphoi also carried symbolic meaning and cultural significance. The scenes depicted on the surface of the vessel, such as the dancing figures and the sphinxes, served as visual stimulants that enriched the symposium experience, forming springboards for discussion and reinforcing cultural values of ancient Greek society, reflecting themes of music, dance, and mythological imagery. For a similar example, see The British Museum, Museum number 1836,0224.199. Provenance: Property of a London Ancient Art gallery, formerly in an English private collection, according to the heirs possibly purchased in some auction or Art Gallery during the 1970s-1980s.
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 5.91 in (15 cm)Width: 9.65 in (24.5 cm)Depth: 6.58 in (16.7 cm)
  • Style:
    Classical Greek (Of the Period)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Date of Manufacture:
    Ca. 540-480 BC
  • Condition:
    Repaired. Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    London, GB
  • Reference Number:
    Seller: A-VI 0121stDibs: LU7093236964402
More From This SellerView All
  • Apulian Red Figure Lekanis with Ladies of Fashion
    Located in London, GB
    A Red-figure lekanis composed of a fitted lid with red-figure "ladies of fashion" in profile. This woman wears a saccos, a type of headdress characterised by its draped fabric, which...
    Category

    Antique 15th Century and Earlier Italian Classical Greek Antiquities

    Materials

    Terracotta

  • Greek Black Glaze Pottery Guttus
    Located in London, GB
    A black-glazed terracotta guttus (oil-lamp filler) with a spool-shaped foot, a wheel-shaped body, a protruding ring handle, and a cylindrical spout with an everted rim. The tondo fea...
    Category

    Antique 15th Century and Earlier Italian Classical Greek Antiquities

    Materials

    Pottery

  • Apulian Red Figure Lekanis with Ladies of Fashion
    Located in London, GB
    An Apulian lekanis comprised of two distinct components. The lower portion features a footed bowl adorned with a sleek black glaze, providing an elegant foundation for the vessel. Tw...
    Category

    Antique 15th Century and Earlier Antiquities

    Materials

    Terracotta

  • Greek Gnathian Epyichysis
    Located in London, GB
    A delicate South-Italian epichysis. The vessel was a wine jug, composed of a narrow neck, a small lip and a high-arching handle. This Gnathian-ware epichysis was decorated with tongu...
    Category

    Antique 15th Century and Earlier Italian Classical Greek Antiquities

    Materials

    Terracotta

  • Greek Gnathian Black Glaze Pottery Oinochoe
    Located in London, GB
    A black-glazed pottery oinochoe that boasts distinctive features that characterise this specific type of Greek pottery. The vessel has a rounded body that exhibits delicate fluting t...
    Category

    Antique 15th Century and Earlier Antiquities

    Materials

    Terracotta

  • Seljuk Silver Bracelet
    Located in London, GB
    A silver Seljuk penannular bracelet with a central ridge and round rosette designs. In Islamic art, these designs symbolise divine creation and eternal nature, with arabesques repres...
    Category

    Antique 15th Century and Earlier Persian Islamic Antiquities

    Materials

    Silver

You May Also Like
  • Antique Hand-Carved Krishna Figure
    Located in Raleigh, NC
    Carved wood Krishna figure with detailed feathers and form. Simple and peaceful. free shipping.
    Category

    Early 20th Century Asian Religious Items

    Materials

    Hardwood

  • Pre Columbian Rare Lambayeque Wood Figure
    Located in London, GB
    Pre columbian Lamabayeque wood figure Peru Circa 750 to 1375 AD A rare standing figure of a deity with triangular tear drop shaped eyes holding a child, Carved in very dense heavy hard wood Measures: Height 14 inches, 36 cm weight, 1.5 kg approx Ex collection of a Oxford Academic, reputed to have came from Pit rivers...
    Category

    Antique 15th Century and Earlier Peruvian Antiquities

    Materials

    Wood

  • Small Ecuadorian Moulded Clay Figure on Stand
    Located in London, GB
    This rare and wonderful example of a formative stage figure from the woodland period is attached to a small wire and wood stand, and is in extraordinarily very good condition for its...
    Category

    Antique 15th Century and Earlier Ecuadorean Antiquities

    Materials

    Clay

  • Chinese Antique Tang Dynasty Pottery Figure  Asian antiques
    Located in London, GB
    A large Chinese Tang Dynasty Seated pottery figure  Tang Dynasty circa Circa AD 618 - 906 China, Finely sculpted Black earthenware sculpture of a court lady with remains of pigme...
    Category

    Antique 16th Century Chinese Ceramics

    Materials

    Pottery

  • Pre Columbian Narino Carchi Coquero Coca chewer Figure Columbia
    Located in London, GB
    A hand modelled statue of a male coca chewer figure , known as a Coquero, wearing a sash sitting upon a bench,  the coca quid in his right cheek, with black negative resist design Pr...
    Category

    Antique 15th Century and Earlier Colombian Antiquities

    Materials

    Pottery

  • An Egyptian wooden female offering bearer figure, Middle Kingdom
    Located in UTRECHT, UT
    Standing female wearing a tight fitting white dress and black tripartite wig, serene facial features with large painted eyes. Separately made arms attached with dowel to the shoulder...
    Category

    Antique 15th Century and Earlier Egyptian Egyptian Antiquities

    Materials

    Wood

Recently Viewed

View All