ITEM: Oinochoe
MATERIAL: Pottery
CULTURE: Greek
PERIOD: 4th Century B.C
DIMENSIONS: 162 mm x 110 mm
CONDITION: Good condition, repaired
PROVENANCE: Ex Dutch private collection, acquired between 1970 - 1990

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 oinochoe, a type of wine jug, is one of the most iconic and versatile vessels from ancient Greek pottery. Used primarily for pouring wine, the oinochoe has a distinctive shape characterized by a trefoil mouth, a single handle, and a rounded or ovoid body. The trefoil mouth, with its three-lobed design, facilitated the easy and controlled pouring of liquids, making it a practical tool for symposia and other social gatherings where wine was a central element. The form and function of the oinochoe highlight the importance of wine in Greek social and religious life, serving as a key vessel in both everyday and ceremonial contexts.

The decoration of oinochoai (plural for oinochoe) varied widely, reflecting different artistic styles and periods in Greek pottery. In the Geometric period, these vessels often featured linear motifs and patterns, while later, during the Archaic and Classical periods, the black-figure and red-figure techniques became predominant. Black-figure oinochoai showcased silhouetted figures against the natural red clay, with intricate details incised into the black slip. In contrast, red-figure oinochoai reversed this approach, allowing for greater flexibility and detail in depicting human figures, mythological scenes, and daily activities. The choice of imagery on these vessels was significant, often illustrating stories from Greek mythology, religious rituals, or scenes of leisure, thereby embedding cultural narratives into functional objects.

Oinochoai were not only used in domestic settings but also held ceremonial and ritualistic importance. In religious rituals, they were used to pour libations, a practice of offering wine to the gods, which was a fundamental aspect of Greek worship. The presence of oinochoai in tombs and graves also suggests their role in funerary practices, possibly to provide for the deceased in the afterlife or to symbolize ongoing commemoration.