RARE APULIAN BELL KRATER MADE BY THE COMO GROUP WITH DIONYSUS

Ca. 350 - 300 BC A rare red-figure pottery bell krater with a large body and two horizontal handles. The krater features traditional patterns, such as the laurel wreath under the lip, the Palmette motif under the handles, and the meander pattern with crosses along the bottom of the body. Side ‘A’ is decorated with a scene inside of the temple of Dionysus, shown by a plate with an inscription about the God, under which two men conversing, wearing long tunics and one-shouldered cloaks. On side "B," there is a naked youth, likely Dionysus, standing before an altar. He holds a long Thyrsus in his left hand. In front of him is a Maenad, who holds a Thyrsos in her right hand, and her left hand is outstretched, holding a deep patera. For similar see: Christie's Live Auction 2056 Antiquities, 9 December 2008; Trendall, 1983, Plate XVIII, n. 3-4.
Size: 390mm x 365mm; Weight: 3.6kg
Provenance: Property of a central London gallery, previously acquired on the Dutch art market; previously acquired on the Belgian art market; Hugo Lievens, Brussels 1982. This item has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database and comes with a confirmation letter.
This piece is accompanied by a historical report from Alessandro Neri, an international Cultural Heritage expert based in Florence, Italy.
2000
Estimate: GBP 3000 - 6000