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A teardrop-shaped vessel with a wide spout and a small opening at top.

A vessel which is pointed at the bottom, rounded at the top with a short narrow neck and wide spout. In black and red there is a cow walking to the right, followed by another animal whose head can be seen but the rest of its body is out of sight. Underneath the cow there is another animal which isn’t clear due to some missing paint. In alternating red and black there are teardrop shapes extending down from the neck of the spout, and geometric lines and triangles like a sun on the top of the spout.

Identification and Creation

Object Number
2002.284
Title
Aryballos (oil flask): Bull between Lions; Dogs Hunting Hare
Classification
Vessels
Work Type
vessel
Date
650-630 BCE
Places
Creation Place: Ancient & Byzantine World, Europe, Corinth (Corinthia)
Period
Orientalizing period
Culture
Greek
Persistent Link
https://hvrd.art/o/99040

Location

Location
Level 3, Room 3400, Ancient Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Art, Ancient Greece in Black and Orange
View this object's location on our interactive map

Physical Descriptions

Medium
Terracotta
Technique
Black-figure
Dimensions
8.4 x 3.7 cm (3 5/16 x 1 7/16 in.)
mouth: 3.1 cm (1 1/4 in.)

Provenance

Recorded Ownership History
Herbert A. and Tilly Cahn collection, Basel, (by 2002), sold; [through Jean-David Cahn AG, Basel, Octobert 18, 2002, Auction 3, lot 11], sold; to Harvard University Art Museums, 2002.

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line
Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, David M. Robinson Fund
Accession Year
2002
Object Number
2002.284
Division
Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact
am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
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Descriptions

Description
Small piriform or pointed aryballos. Very 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.

Decorated in black figure with dark red embellishments and rather precisely incised details. Decoration divided into four registers: 1) teardrop-shaped tongues, alternating in red and black, decorate the shoulder; 2) on the body of the aryballos, a lion processes behind a bull towards another, facing, lion. A bird flies to the right over the shoulder of this latter lion. Star rosettes, s-shaped spirals, and thick tasseled fillets decorate the the upper section of this register and the space below the handle; 3) two elongated hounds chase a rabbit below the main register; 4) and triangular rays extend from the base. Registers are separated from each other by a pronounced, simple line.

Guilloche pattern in red and black on exterior of handle. On the collar, a ring of narrow toungues surrounds the filling hole. The tongues are ringed by triangular rays, which are themselves surrounded by a thin, black ring at the edge of the collar.

Pinkish-buff fabric with a slightly green tinge. Significant loss of slip. Almost one-third of collar missing. Significant chipping around base.

Exhibition History

  • 32Q: 3400 Greek, Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge, 11/16/2014 - 01/01/2050

Subjects and Contexts

  • Google Art Project

Verification Level

This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu