ITEM: Kylix
MATERIAL: Pottery
CULTURE: Greek
PERIOD: 4th Century B.C
DIMENSIONS: 48 mm x 160 mm x 103 mm
CONDITION: Good condition
PROVENANCE: Ex German private collection, acquired before 2000

Comes with Certificate of Authenticity and Export Licence. If you are from outside the European Union, we will have to apply for the export licence again for your country, this takes 3 to 5 weeks and has a cost of 5% of the hammer price, this amount will be added to the final invoice.

The Greek kylix is a type of drinking cup that was widely used in ancient Greece, particularly during the Archaic and Classical periods. It is characterized by its broad, shallow bowl, horizontal handles, and a short stem, which collectively give it a distinctive, elegant profile. The kylix was primarily used for drinking wine, especially during symposia, which were social gatherings where men would drink, discuss various topics, and enjoy entertainment. The shape of the kylix made it ideal for such events, as it allowed drinkers to easily lift and sip from the cup while reclining on couches.

The decoration of kylikes (plural for kylix) often featured intricate and detailed artwork, typically executed in the black-figure or red-figure techniques that were prevalent in Greek pottery. Black-figure kylikes, produced earlier, involved painting figures in black slip on the natural red clay body, with details incised to reveal the underlying clay. Red-figure kylikes, which became popular later, reversed this process by painting the background in black and leaving the figures in the natural red of the clay, allowing for greater detail and more naturalistic depictions. The interior of the kylix, known as the tondo, frequently displayed scenes related to Dionysus, the god of wine, as well as other mythological or everyday life scenes, offering visual delight and narrative intrigue as the drinker finished their wine.

Beyond their functional and aesthetic appeal, kylikes also had a social and symbolic significance. The imagery on kylikes often depicted scenes of revelry, music, and athletic competition, reflecting the cultural values and practices of the symposia.