Greek Red Figure Skyphos with Owls 5th-4th century B.C. A terracotta red figure skyphos with carinated body, an owl standing facing, framed by olive or laurel sprays on both faces, two handles and discoid foot. Cf. The Metropolitan Museum, accession numbers 2011.604.10.143 and 41.162.100, for similar; cf. an identical owl on a red-Attic skyphos in Melnikova-Grigorjeva, Bogdanova, O., 'An owl and a mirror: on Bosch's visual motif's meaning' in Sign Systems Studies, 38, (1/4), Tartu, 2010, fig.3, p.215, in the Museum of Fine Arts, Lyon. 48.9 grams, 11.8 cm wide (4 5/8 in.). Acquired in the 1970s. Ex Olivier Vodoz, Geneva, Switzerland. The 'owl' motif is found in Ancient Greece (especially in Athens) as an attribute of the goddess Athena, and later with the Roman Minerva. The goddess of wisdom is rarely seen without her main attributes, and therefore the owl is often present. The popularity of an owl as a symbol of Pallas Athena is confirmed by Greek coins dating from 5th–2nd centuries B.C., gemstones, amphorae, but especially by a group of skyphoi with its image. This specimen belongs to a series widespread in the last quarter of 5th century B.C. For this specific lot, 5% import VAT is applicable on the hammer price [A video of this lot is available to view on Timeline Auctions Website.]