Ancient Greek Terracotta Xenon Miniature Oinochoe 400-350BC

Description

Heading: Ancient Greek terracotta Xenon miniature oinochoe 400-350BC

Material: Clay, glazed terracotta

Period: Ancient Greek

Date: c400-350BC

Origin: Southern Italy, Apulia 

Condition: VF, slight cosmetic damage to glaze commensurate with age. 

Description: A beautiful little pottery oinochoe with black glaze with a pedestal base giving a sturdy foundation. There is a side handle and the usual trefoil lip to the jug rim and a short neck. The body is decorated with a central palmate motif flanked by double-ended scrolls.

Size and Weight: 60mm x 55mm, 45g

Features and Provenance:  Ex Apollo Art Auctions, London, previously a Central London gallery and prior to that the Dutch and Belgian art market from 1995.

This impressive little Ancient Greek Terracotta oinochoe was probably made in the Apulia region, known for its black glaze and red images and motifs, usually geometric patterns or floral designs. This type of pottery is known as Xenon ware after a black and red kantharos was found with the word XENON emblazoned on it, now displayed in the Frankfurt museum. Why so small? These lovely miniature pieces are copies of the larger forms and were either used as containers for cosmetics and oils or as a votive, ritual offering.

Condition Summary. This varies with the age of the artefact and there are grades between

Extremely Fine (EF). Very slight traces of wear, all parts of pattern etc present, visible and clear

Very Fine (VF). Some signs of wear on the higher parts of the relief, all parts of pattern etc present, but may be worn

Fine (F). Wear on the artefact and parts of item and pattern etc may be missing or not visible