Apulian Red-Figure Askos with Panthers
4th century B.C. With an arching strap handle and a wide spout; either side of the body painted with a crouching panther, one playing with a ball and the other depicted facing; repaired. Cf. Tugusheva, O., Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum Russia, Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow: Attic Red-Figured Vases, Fascicule 6, Roma, 2003, pl.57, nos.4-5 and 6-7, a similar askos with two panthers, one facing, the other in profile; see also a similar Apulian red-figure askos depicting a dog and a hare, of the end of 4th century B.C. in Antikensammlung Kiel, Inventory B 730; similar askoi but of Attic production in painting style in HeiBmeyer H.H., Vasen und Figurliche Gefasse aus der Griechischen Antike – Katalog einer suddeuutschen Sammlung, Dettelbach, 2008, figs.24-25-26; Papuci-W?adka, E., Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum, Poland, Cracow, Fascicule I, Cracow, 2012, pl.80; Trinkl, E., Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum Österreich Beiheft 1, Interdisziplinäre Dokumentations – und visualisierungsmethoden, Wien, 2013, fig.39, p.67, for a restored specimen of the same typology. 149 grams, 12 cm (4 3/4 in.).

Acquired from Gallery Gryphos, Munich, 1992.European private collection.Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12001-211879.

Painted askoi in different forms have been produced and been in use in Athens since the middle and second quarter of the 5th century B.C., but they were also made in southern Italy. The askoi painted with a pair of animal figures were realised in Magna Graecia after the Attic continental production of similar models, with the representation of griffins, sphinxes and laconic hounds. The function of the askos as a vessel was clearly linked to wine, and therefore it is not anomalous to see it decorated with panther motifs, an animal connected with Dionysus, the god of wine and drinking. (For this specific lot, 5% import VAT is applicable on the hammer price.)

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