Object Description
Ca. 400-350 BC
A South Italian red-figure stamnos, a charming squat vessel adorned with black glaze and red decorative elements. This stamnos features a corseted neck with two opposing handles and a wide flange designed to accommodate a lid, adorned with a flattened knob finial. It sits on a low, concave base. The vessel’s decoration consists of exquisite portraits depicting “ladies of fashion”, each facing left and separated by intricate palmette designs. These portraits exhibit delicate facial features and elaborate saccoi. The stamnos is further decorated with radiating strokes around the neck, and a wave pattern just below the rim.
The stamnos was a type of ancient Greek pottery vessel that was typically utilised for the storage and transportation of liquids, such as wine or oil. Its wide and rounded body allowed for ample storage capacity, while the handles facilitated pouring and handling. The motif of “ladies of fashion” depicted on this stamnos is very characteristic of South Italian pottery in the 4th century BC. The representation of fashionable women in these portraits provides insights into the social status and ideals of beauty prevalent during the period. Such depictions not only served as decorative elements but also conveyed societal norms, ideals, and concepts of femininity, allowing us to glimpse the fashion and aesthetics of the time. For a similar example, see The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Accession Number: 2021.40.27a, b.
Size: L: 95mm / W: 85mm ; 140g