{"product_id":"attic-white-ground-lekythos-460-440-bce","title":"Attic White-Ground Lekythos | Classical Greece | Circa 460–440 BCE","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHistorical Context \u0026amp; Origin\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRegion:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Attica, Ancient Greece\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMaterial:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Wheel-made terracotta with white slip and black glaze\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePeriod:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e Classical Period, circa 460–440 BCE\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDescription\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis ancient Greek \u003c\/span\u003eAttic white-ground lekythos dates to approximately 460–440 BCE, during the Classical period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWheel-made in terracotta, the vessel has the characteristic slender form of a lekythos, with a cylindrical body, sloping shoulder, tall neck widening into a cup-shaped mouth, vertical strap handle, and stepped foot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe body was originally covered with a white slip, much of which survives in a worn and yellowed state. Black glaze remains on the lower body, foot, handle, and mouth, while thin black painted lines are preserved around the shoulder. No figural decoration is presently visible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLekythoi were narrow-necked vessels commonly associated with oils and are particularly well known from funerary contexts in Classical Athens. The restrained proportions and white-ground surface treatment place this example firmly within the Attic ceramic tradition of the mid-5th century BCE.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFeatures\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWheel-made terracotta construction\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSlender cylindrical body\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSloping shoulder\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTall neck with cup-shaped mouth\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eVertical strap handle\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStepped foot\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSurviving white slip\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBlack glaze on mouth, handle, lower body, and foot\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThin black lines at the shoulder\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNo surviving figural decoration\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCultural Significance\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhite-ground lekythoi are among the most recognizable ceramic forms of \u003c\/span\u003eClassical Athens. These vessels were closely associated with the storage and presentation of oils and became particularly important in Athenian funerary practice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe white-ground technique provided a pale surface upon which painted decoration could be applied, although in this example no figural imagery survives. Its vessel form, surface treatment, and proportions support the specialist attribution to Attica, circa 460–440 BCE.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCondition\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSubstantially intact ancient condition with significant age-related surface wear. The \u003c\/span\u003ewhite slip is worn, yellowed, and lost in patches, while areas of the surviving black glaze exhibit flaking and surface loss. Additional abrasions, deposits, discoloration, and minor edge wear are consistent with considerable age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions (Approximate)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHeight: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e7.75 in\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWidth: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e2.5 in\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAge (Approximate)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2,465–2,485 years old\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProvenance\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePurchased from E. Gazarossian \u0026amp; E. Vitali in the early 1970s. E. Vitali is independently documented by the \u003cem\u003eCorpus Vasorum Antiquorum\u003c\/em\u003e of the Academy of Athens as an antiquarian and collector. At least two Attic black-figure lekythoi from her collection entered the National Archaeological Museum in Athens as gifts, where they are recorded under inventory nos. 19664 and 19665. This provides important institutional documentation of Vitali's involvement with ancient Greek pottery and the antiquities market.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe vessel was subsequently held in a private collection in Virginia, USA. It was later offered by Quinn’s Auction Galleries in Falls Church, Virginia in 2026.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe piece was later examined by Luca Salvaggio, an Italian archaeologist and specialist in ancient Mediterranean material. He holds a Postgraduate Diploma from the Italian Archaeological School at Athens (IASA) and is accredited for preventive archaeology by the Italian Ministry of Culture (MiC). Salvaggio identified the vessel as an Attic white-ground lekythos dating to circa 460–440 BCE, based on its slender cylindrical body, sloping shoulder, tall neck, cup-shaped mouth, vertical strap handle, stepped foot, surviving white slip, and black-glazed details. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLearn More\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStudy a closely related 5th-century BCE Attic pattern lekythos preserved by the \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.spurlock.illinois.edu\/collections\/search-collection\/details.php?a=1900.11.0119\" title=\"Attic Pattern Lekythos – Spurlock Museum of World Cultures\"\u003eSpurlock Museum of World Cultures\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBrowse our \u003cstrong\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/relicandrarity.com\/collections\/roman-greek-artifacts-ancient-relics\" title=\"Roman and Greek Artifacts and Ancient Relics – Relic \u0026amp; Rarity\"\u003eCollection of Roman and Greek Artifacts and Ancient Relics\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Relic \u0026 Rarity","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55896341741890,"sku":null,"price":1200.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0955\/1803\/2194\/files\/Ancient-Greek-Black-Figure-Oil-Vessel-Circa-69602.png?v=1791250903","url":"https:\/\/relicandrarity.com\/products\/attic-white-ground-lekythos-460-440-bce","provider":"Relic \u0026 Rarity","version":"1.0","type":"link"}