Lekythos. Greek culture, Attica, 5th century BC.

Lekythos. Greek culture, Attica, 5th century BC.
Ceramics.
Provenance: private collection, France. Acquired in the 1960's.
Attached thermoluminescence test.
Good general state of preservation. It presents blows and losses in some areas of the glaze. The handle has two professionally restored break lines.
Measurements: 31,5 cm height.

Elegant attic lekythos of great format, representative example of the classic Greek ceramics destined to contain perfumed oils, frequently associated as much to the daily life as to funerary contexts. Its stylized silhouette, with an elongated body, narrow neck and flared mouth, corresponds to a formal type characteristic of the 5th century BC, appreciated for its balance and refinement.

The decoration, executed in the technique of black figures on a light background, is concentrated in the shoulder area, where an ornamental motif of palmettes and stylized vegetal elements is developed, arranged in a rhythmic manner and framed by linear and dotted bands. This decorative repertoire, of Attic-Archaic tradition, provides visual dynamism and contrasts with the sobriety of the body, covered with a satin-finish black varnish.

Pieces of these characteristics not only stand out for their aesthetic quality, but also for their cultural relevance, being part of the rituals linked to the care of the body and funerary practices in classical Greece.