5th century B.C.. Of ovoid form with trumpet-shaped spout and strap handle, reserved image of a lady wearing a large himation, on a baseline with scrolled foliage. Cf. similar item (undecorated) in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, under accession no.41.162.237; cf. also a lekythos with image of an Amazon in Isler, H.P., Archäologische Sammlung der Universität Zürich. Jahresbericht Nr. 33, 2006-2007, Zürich, 2007, p.6, under nos.1259-1292. 106 grams, 11 cm (4 3/8 in.).

The word lekythos had a wide meaning in ancient Greece, probably generally meaning all oil jugs, including the athletes' oil bottle (now called aryballos) as well as the types now given this name by archaeologists. Certain lekythoi resemble certain oenochoe superficially, at a first glance. Oenochoes, however, were wine-pitchers and in most cases were larger than the lekythoi, which were small jugs for oil, perfumes, etc.

Ex German collection, 1970. with Galerie Chenel, Paris, 22 July 2008. (For this specific lot, 5% import VAT is applicable on the hammer price.)