A GREEK BRONZE HYDRIA

CLASSICAL PERIOD, CIRCA MID 5TH CENTURY B.C.

Details

A GREEK BRONZE HYDRIA
CLASSICAL PERIOD, CIRCA MID 5TH CENTURY B.C.
The ovoid body of hammered sheet with broad shoulders and a slightly concave neck, the separately-cast flaring base with a band of tongues, the two fluted horizontal handles each with a circular plate with radiating tongues, a siren at the base of the fluted vertical handle, her wings spread, her bird feet descending from her torso, a palmette with tendrils below, ovolo on the overhanging everted rim, a Greek inscription incised on the rim possibly reading: "the prize from (the games at) Kleitor"
17 in. (43.2 cm.) high

Provenance

Dutch Art Market, 1980s.

Lot Essay

For a similar hydria in the Harvard University Art Museums, see no. 108 in Mitten and Doeringer, Master Bronzes from the Classical World.

This hydria is likely no. B140 (ex. Geneva Market) listed by von Bothmer in his review of Diehl, Die Hydria, Formgeschichte und Verwendung im Kult des Altertums, in Gnomon, October 1965.

More from ANTIQUITIES

View All