Skyphos

Skyphos

Terracotta

This black cup is decorated with small-scale geometric and floral patterns, painted in white, yellow and red over the black. This is a characteristic feature of the Gnathian style of pottery decoration and this cup comes from the early part of the middle period of that style. The Rose Painter is particularly associated with the use of both horizontal and vertical or hanging vine sprays that frame an object or a female head or mask. The latter arrangement is used on Side A of this vase, but the painting is not as neat as in those works attributed to the Rose Painter himself. Side B is decorated with a simpler arrangement of rosettes between descending ivy sprays. The cup has an ovoid body and a small disc foot that has a slightly flaring upper surface. The horizontal handles are rounded in cross section and are attached just below the rim. The cup is plain black inside. On the outside there is a reserved band on the lower part of the body and the upper surface of the foot. The vase has been re-assembled from several fragments and a chip on the rim on Side B has been filled in.

Function:
A drinking cup with decoration that is related to the cult of Dionysus and the symposium.

Decoration:
A) There is a black line around the top of the reserved band on the body. Added red has been painted below this and on the top of the foot. The edge of the foot is painted black.
B) Side A: there is a dotted ovolo pattern in white with yellow, incised outlines around the rim. It is placed between incised lines that are painted yellow. Below is the following sequence: an incised yellow line, a band of rectangles, alternately red and yellow, double incised yellow lines, a line of yellow dots and a horizontal band of grape vine with two vertical descending sprays ("Oxford vine" pattern). The vine has a red stem and white/yellow leaves and tendrils on either side. Hanging from the horizontal spray are bunches of grapes in white/yellow. Similar bunches hang on either side of the descending sprays.
C) The vine frames a profile female head in white with yellow/brown details, probably a hanging theatrical hetaira mask. There are two yellow rosettes in the field, one in front of, and one behind, the head, and a wavy line of yellow dots below.
D) The head has bunches of hair on the forehead. The rest of the hair is covered by a cap with perhaps more hair at the top of the back of the head plus yellow ribbons.
E) Side B: there is a dotted ovolo pattern in white and yellow on the rim, similar to that on Side A. Below is a yellow line.
F) Three vertical ivy sprays in white with a central yellow stem (type Kg) hang from this line. Immediately below the line, between the sprays, is a pattern with groups of three white dots arranged in a triangular shape. Also between the sprays is a white rosette, one on each side of the central spray.

Purchased from Holland Coins and Antiquities Ltd, California, with funds from Alumni Association, 1982.

c. 330 BC

82.043