ATTRIBUTED TO THE GUIDE-LINE CLASS, CIRCA 525-475 B.C.

Details

AN ATTIC BLACK-FIGURED OINOCHOE
ATTRIBUTED TO THE GUIDE-LINE CLASS, CIRCA 525-475 B.C.
With Herakles playing a kithara, wearing the Nemean lion skin over his head and tied at his waist, a quiver slung over his back and his knobbed club leaning in front, framed by ivy leaf bands on each side, tongues above, ivy leaf band on the neck, a dipinto mark on the underside of foot

10 ½ in. (26.6 cm.) high

Provenance

Anonymous sale; Münzen und Medaillen, Basel, Auktion XXVI, 5 October 1963, lot 112.
with Seiyo Bijutsu Gallery, Osaka.
Private collection, Japan, acquired from the above in the 1970s.
Accompanied by an Ichikawa Kiyoshi (1898-1987) presentation box.
Beazley Archive no. 351338.

Literature

J.D. Beazley, Paralipomena, Oxford, 1971, p. 184, no. 9 bis.

Special notice

These lots have been imported from outside the EU for sale using a Temporary Import regime. Import VAT is payable (at 5%) on the Hammer price. VAT is also payable (at 20%) on the buyer’s Premium on a VAT inclusive basis. When a buyer of such a lot has registered an EU address but wishes to export the lot or complete the import into another EU country, he must advise Christie's immediately after the auction.

Brought to you by

Georgiana Aitken

gaitken@christies.com +44 (0)20 7752 3002

Lot Essay

Herakles was originally taught to play the kithara by Eumolpus, the founder of the Eleusinian Mysteries, however Eumolpus was replaced as tutor by Linos. Their teaching methods were very different and Linos made the error of striking his pupil. Herakles became enraged, smashing his instrument over the hapless teacher’s head, killing him instantly. For the subject of Herakles playing a kithara, see J. Boardman, 'Herakles’, Lexicon Iconographicum Mythologiae Classicae, vol. IV, 1988, Zurich and Munich, nos 1444-1468. For a discussion of mercantile dipinto see A. W. Johnston, Trademarks on Greek Vases, Warminster, 1979.

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