CIRCA 510-500 B.C.

Details

AN ATTIC BLACK-FIGURED PYXIS (SHAPE B)
CIRCA 510-500 B.C.
With cylindrical body, the lid with straight walls, raised ridge around top and base, walls depicting three Labours of Herakles with the hero fighting in turn from left to right the Nemean Lion, the Erymanthian Boar, the Cretan Bull, each vignette with the nude Herakles to right of beast with left leg advanced, facing and reaching forward with both arms to the confronting animal, wearing red fillet, the scenes separated respectively by the hero's abandoned club, bow and quiver, a drapery swag, and bucranium; the top of lid alluding to a fourth Labour with an Amazon, probably Hippolyta, advancing left, standing in front of horse with bridle and reins delineated, holding two crossed spears, wearing Phrygian cap, trousers, and cloak, details in added red
2¼ in. (7.5 cm.) diam.; 1¾ in. (4.3 cm.) high

Provenance

The Thétis Collection, Geneva, Switzerland; acquired prior to 1970.

Special notice

VAT rate of 5% is payable on hammer price and at 20% on the buyer's premium.

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Lot Essay

The choice of labours depicted on this pyxis from the available twelve canonical Labours must have been influenced by limitations of shape but also by which scenes allowed for a smooth repetition of composition, aiding the unified flow of the figured decoration. Despite the simple repetition of figures and poses, details specific to each Labour are present: no weapon could defeat the Nemean Lion, forcing Herakles to abandon his characteristic bow and club and fight the beast with his bare hands; the hanging drapery next to the Erymanthian boar may represent the hero's cloak or the net with which he caught the beast; the bucranium symbolises Herakles' successful capture of the Cretan Bull. A fourth Labour alluded to on the lid required Herakles to steal the girdle of the Amazon queen, Hippolyta.

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