A MYCENAEAN POTTERY AMPHORA

LATE HELLADIC III B, CIRCA 14TH-13TH CENTURY B.C.

Details

A MYCENAEAN POTTERY AMPHORA
LATE HELLADIC III B, CIRCA 14TH-13TH CENTURY B.C.
The globular body on a raised foot, with two vertical handles, the shoulder panels decorated with confronting goats flanking a stylized plant, framed by additional foliage on both ends, chevrons in the field, with three broad plain bands below and one above, a band around the rim
7½ in. (19 cm.) high

Provenance

Private Collection, Finland, late 19th century; thence by descent to their granddaughter.
The Property of a Lady; Antiquities, Christie's, London, 29 April 2010, lot 6.

If you wish to view the condition report of this lot, please sign in to your account.

View condition report

Lot Essay

As R. Higgins explains (p. 116 in Minoan and Mycenaean Art), a unique painting style developed in the 14th and 13th centuries B.C. that portrayed animals heraldically, incorporating patterns such as dots, crosses, or chevrons into the composition. The author notes that "these patterns look very much as if they were inspired by embroidery stitches and it may well be that this figure-style was based not on frescoes but on textiles." For a bowl with confronting sphinxes flanking a stylized tree see no. 134, op. cit.

More from Antiquities

View All