Ancient Greek Apulian Red-Figure Terracotta Chous with Young Male

£ 450.00

A very finely painted, terracotta chous (small wine vessel), which is datable to the late 4th century BC and originates from Magna Graecia, Apulia (an area situated within Southern Italy that began to be populated by ancient Greek settlers from the 8th century BC). This impressive vessel possesses a curving, ovoid body which tapers in at the shoulder leading to a trefoil lip. A single ribbed handle connects from the body to the rim. The vessel sits upon a neatly potted and gently splaying foot. Decorated in the red-figure technique, the body of the vessel presents the image of a nude, youthful male. He is shown holding a bucket in one hand and a wreath in the other whilst he looks towards a cornucopia. The man is facing forward with his upper body slightly twisted while he looks over his right shoulder. His muscular torso and open stance has been carefully detailed by the painter, with his facial features delicately silhouetted. Above the figure lies a vitruvian scroll border and an additional cross has been placed upon the vessel’s base.

Date: Circa 4th Century BC
Condition: Very fine condition with minor chipping to body and lip as well as small repairs to spout, however image remains

SOLD

SKU: HD-11 Category: Tags: ,

Famed classical archaeologist and art historian, John Beazley, created a formal typology for Ancient Greek painted vessels, and this specific ceramic can be classified under the ‘oinochoe’ (deriving from ‘chef’ I pour) or ‘chous’ type (meaning libations). The latter can be defined as a small, squat pouring vessel always with a trefoil mouth, which would have been used to transport and distribute liquid from a larger krater. Chous have developed specific association with the Athenian wine festival, Anthesteria, which was held in honour of the God Dionysus; these vessels are thought to have been particularly favoured by children who were given chous as gifts in celebration of this monthly festival. However, this particular ceramic lacks the usual infantine imagery we see on this vessel type.

Invented c.525 BC in Athens, the red-figure technique allowed the painter to use the natural red of the terracotta medium to formalise his design before he filled these voided shapes with details so as to suggest depth and volume. The contrasting black-figure technique required the painter to enact the more tiresome task of inscribing his thick, sometimes streaky black images with an inflexible metal engraver, only to create flat, two-dimensional images.

Learn more about collecting Ancient Greek vases in our relevant blog post: Collecting Guide: Types of Ancient Greek Vase

Weight 386.9 g
Dimensions W 11.6 x H 17.1 cm
Culture

Pottery and Porcelain

Region

Reference: For a similar item,The British Museum, item 1814,0704.560

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