Ancient Greek Attic Pyxis Cosmetics Box

Ancient Greek Attic Pyxis Cosmetics Box.

A rare Colonial Greek or Etruscan Attic black-figure Pyxis Circa 6th century B.C.

Finely moulded, the cover with rounded knob and reserved decoration of concentric circles, the body of the lid with further black glazed concentric bands and an outer border with intertwining bunches of grapes and vine leaves, the leaves with small touches of white paint. The lower half in plain black glaze, the underside of the foot with potter’s mark.

Antique black-figure pottery was highly prized in the 18th and 19th Centuries, with a number of European nobles, like Sir William Hamilton and Prince Lucien Bonaparte, forming huge collections. While there remains some debate as to whether pieces such as this, many of which have been found in Etruscan tombs, were native to Etruria, or were brought there via trade with the Greek colonies of Southern Italy, they retain the subtle, geometric forms belonging to earlier Corinthian black-figure pottery, of which the elegant motifs that skirt the edges of this pyxis are a prime example.

Provenance:

Sotheby’’s Highly important Egyptian, Western Asiatic, Greek, Etruscan and Roman antiquities. June 13th, 1966, lot 142.

Subsequently Condyllis collection, acquired from the previous.

Price

£14500.00

This object is eligible for a Certificate of BADA Provenance