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An Attic (Greek) bell krater (wine bowl)
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An Attic (Greek) bell krater (wine bowl)
390-380 BC
Attica
The area known as 'Attica' is the region of south-eastern Greece ruled by Athens in ancient times.
The area known as 'Attica' is the region of south-eastern Greece ruled by Athens in ancient times.
Black glaze on red clay
Height: 32cm
Diameter: 34cm
Diameter: 34cm
Museum number: L8
Vermeule catalogue number: Vermeule 509
On display: Library-Dining Room
All spaces are in No. 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields unless identified as in No. 12, Soane's first house.
For tours https://www.soane.org/your-visit
Curatorial note
Side A: Dionysos seated left, nude with vine wreath in hair and himation over couch, holding sprouting thyrsos vertically in right hand. A wreathed Eros leans right, against his right knee. A young woman in long chiton walks right from left, arms extended, and a young Satyr with thyrsos on left arm does likewise from the right. Flowers in white and rocks (or leaves?) reserved in field below Dionysos.
Side B: Three youths enveloped in long himations: the first two standing right, the youth at the right facing them. The youth in the centre holds a long staff vertically in his right hand.
Laurel border between two fillets at the rim, a decorative ovolo around the handle bases, and a meander border below.
This krater is closely related to the Port Sunlight group, if not in fact belonging to it (only the condition of the vase itself precludes positive attribution). Blazley, ARV, p. 868, describes it as 'Plainer Class of the Early IV century BC'. Mr. Corbett notes especially for comparison Side B of a bell krater in Dublin formerly in the Hope Collection at Deepdene (Tillyard, Hope Vases, p.91f., no.153).
Side B: Three youths enveloped in long himations: the first two standing right, the youth at the right facing them. The youth in the centre holds a long staff vertically in his right hand.
Laurel border between two fillets at the rim, a decorative ovolo around the handle bases, and a meander border below.
This krater is closely related to the Port Sunlight group, if not in fact belonging to it (only the condition of the vase itself precludes positive attribution). Blazley, ARV, p. 868, describes it as 'Plainer Class of the Early IV century BC'. Mr. Corbett notes especially for comparison Side B of a bell krater in Dublin formerly in the Hope Collection at Deepdene (Tillyard, Hope Vases, p.91f., no.153).
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