VesselsGreek7th century BCE

Aryballos (oil flask): Griffin, Lion, and Sphinxes; Dogs Hunting Hare

670-630 BCE

Description

Small piriform or pointed aryballos. Narrow ring base. From base, body flares outward and rounds out to form a sloping shoulder. Relatively long neck with broad collar. Small mouth at center. Wide, rectangular handle extends from collar to middle of shoulder. Decoration divided into four registers: a continuous lotus and palmette scroll decorates the shoulder; on body, various creatures (lions, griffin, sphinxes) face each other with with an intervening dot rosette; a register of elongated hounds is below this; and triangular rays extend from the base. Registers are separated from each other by a double line. Exterior of handle with checkerboard pattern. Rays radiate from mouth a to edge of collar. Dots along rim of collar and handle. Dot rosette on front of neck. Buff fabric with decorative details in dark brown slip. Some flaking of slip.

Classification

Vessels

Technique

Black-figure

Medium

Terracotta

Culture

Greek

Period

Orientalizing period

Century

7th century BCE

Division

Asian and Mediterranean Art

Department

Department of Ancient and Byzantine Art & Numismatics

Dimensions

7.3 x 3.9 cm (2 7/8 x 1 9/16 in.) mouth: 3.3 cm (1 5/16 in.)

Provenance

Herbert A. and Tilly Cahn collection, Basel, (by 2002), sold; [through Jean-David Cahn AG, Basel, Octobert 18, 2002, Auction 3, no. 9], sold; to Harvard University Art Museums, 2002.