Bell Krater with Maenad and Satyrs

Bell Krater with Maenad and Satyrs

TERRACOTTA

A bell crater with a cylindrical body that flares at the top, ending in a thickened rim with a groove on its undersurface. At the bottom it curves gently down to meet a short stem and a thick disc foot. There is a groove between the stem and the disc. The top of the disc flares sharply and the disc itself has a convex profile with a groove on its top edge. The horizontal handles are rounded in cross section. They are attached to the sides of the body, pass sideways and then curve inward. The vase is black on the inside except for a reserved band where the body joins the mouth. The outside is mainly shiny black except for red-figure floral patterns, geometric patterns on reserved bands and the red-figure scenes that have a Dionysiac theme. The following areas are reserved: the body of the vase beneath the handles and the inside surface of the handles themselves plus the grooves at the base of the stem, the top of the disc foot and beneath the rim. The vase is in good condition; it has been restored.

Decoration:
At the top, beneath the rim, is a band of red-figure laurel pattern.

Side A:
The panel is framed at the top by a reserved band with a black ovolo pattern between black lines. At the sides are vertical reverse wave patterns between reserved lines while at the bottom is another band of reverse wave pattern between reserved lines with a red line painted beneath the wave pattern. This band continues around the vase. Inside the panel, the central figure is a seated maenad with a three-quarter body facing left and a profile head facing right. She wears a transparent, sleeveless top, a skirt, and a kekryphalos plus a white diadem on her head. Her other jewellery includes a necklace and three bracelets on each wrist (all white). There are black lines and dots along the lower edges of the top and skirt. The skirt is also decorated with open circles. She holds a branch in her right hand and rests her left hand on the rock or pile of drapery on which she is seated. To the left is a young satyr with a three-quarter body and profile head, facing right. He is naked except for a white stephane on his head, three white bracelets on both wrists and laced sandals, and holds a white drinking horn in his left hand. To the right of the maenad is a silen with a white garland on his head. He also wears white bracelets and laced sandals. His body is frontal and his head faces left while he leans on his right arm and holds a mirror in his left hand. A palmette plant stands to the right, on the ground line.
Side B:
On the left is a standing woman wearing a sleeveless chiton (decorated with open circles) and a kekryphalos plus white jewellery: stephane, necklace and bracelets. Her body is in three-quarter view and her head is in profile. She faces right and holds a mirror in her left hand. To the left of her head, in the field, is a sponge (?) and to the right is a standing draped profile woman, facing left, who wears a stephane on her head. Her himation is decorated with black dots and lines at the upper and lower edges. Between the figures is a vertical palmette plant.
At the sides, around each handle root, is a pattern of black tongues on a reserved band. Beneath the handles, on each side, is a red-figure palmette with side scrolls, florals and open circles. The scrolls that frame the scene on Side B include interesting floral motifs decorated with groups of three black dots.

Aegean

Greek

Classical

Purchased from Galleria Fallani, Geneva, 1964

375 - 350 BC

64.001

Italy

Campania