An attic red-figure lekythos, attributed to the Kerberos Painter, (Paseas)

CIRCA 520 B.C.

Details

An attic red-figure lekythos, attributed to the Kerberos Painter, (Paseas)
Circa 520 B.C.
The black lip with unpainted top bearing inscription, potter's signature , between lip and neck a moulded ring decorated with tongue frieze, small semicircular ring handle, the neck and shoulder with unusual decoration: in cross formation a vertical palmette above hanging palmette joined by two spiralling tendrils to lateral elaborate lotus buds. On the body, a komos scene with three youths, the central figure shown in profile to right holding a barbiton in left hand which he plays with a plektron in his right, he faces another youth to the right with garment decorated with triple dot motif, in the field between these two are traces of an inscription, to the left the third figure is shown with frontal torso, head turned back over his shoulder, right hand in which he holds rhyton held out behind him, under the handles four palmettes in cross formation with four lateral spirals, below the scene a reserved band with linked double dots, (repaired from fragments with restoration, some corrosion particularly to third figure, re-fired)
6 1/8in. (15.5cm.) high

Lot Essay

Paseas, formerly known as the Kerberos Painter, flourished from 520-510 B.C. (see J. Boardman, JHS 1955, p.154 for his name) and painted in both black-figure and red-figure technique. This early red-figure lekythos is highly unusual in shape and decoration. The potter evidently experimented here, combining relatively new forms with older elements e.g. the horizontal shoulder and flat foot which are typical of earlier black-figure lekythoi. Exceedingly unusual are the moulded ring below the echinus mouth and the semicircular form of handle. The resultant overall shape is probably unparalleled. The shoulder and neck decoration are usually separate on lekythoi but here occupy the same field spreading over both areas. Also notable is the palmette formation under the handle - rare on red-figure lekythoi.
Cf. works by the Kerberos Painter: Greifenhagen, p.117ff, a lekythos in the Staatliche Museum, Berlin (Inv. no. 1960,32) showing a barbiton player with similar drapery and treatment of hair and face; MuM 22, 1961, pl. 48 no. 157, for the pose of the left-hand figure; Boardman ARFH, no. 16; and CVA, Greece 1, Athens 1, III 1c, pl,2,7,8 [ARV, p.163 no. 13] an alabastron with linked double dots below scene

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