Ancient Greece, Terracotta lekanis (dish) with lid, Apulia (Southern Italia), 2. half of the 4th century BC.
Two-part vessel consisting of a flat bowl with a highly set off ring foot and a heavy lid with a high, circular knob. Lekanis painted with two female heads (Lady of Fashion). Painted in red-figure technique on each side of the lid and enlivened with added white paint, palmettes between the heads, On the knob a rosette.
Diameter: 9.4 cm, height: 9.5 cm.
Condition: lid glued but no losses, otherwise very good.
Origin: French antique market. Certificate of authenticity included.
The primary decoration on this miniature lekanis, a woman’s head, was a widespread motif in South Italian vase painting during 4th century B.C. South Italian vases decorated with isolated heads have been found overwhelmingly in funerary contexts, either within or above tombs. The significance of these female representations is not known, and likely varied from region to region.
