ITEM: Hydria
MATERIAL: Pottery
CULTURE: Greek
PERIOD: 4th Century B.C
DIMENSIONS: 143 mm x 88 mm
CONDITION: Good condition, repaired and one handle missing
PROVENANCE: Ex French private collection, J.H.E. Demangeon, 1904 - 1992, acquired in 1989 from M. Demangeon

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 hydria is a type of large water-carrying vessel that was commonly used in ancient Greece from the Archaic to the Hellenistic periods (roughly the 6th to 2nd centuries BCE). The hydria is distinguished by its three handles: two small horizontal handles on either side of the body, used for lifting and carrying, and one larger vertical handle at the back, which was used for pouring. The vessel's shape, with a wide, rounded body and a narrow neck, made it ideal for both drawing water from a well and storing it at home. Hydriai (the plural of hydria) were often used in domestic contexts but also held ceremonial importance, especially in rituals involving water.

Hydriai were frequently decorated using the black-figure and red-figure techniques, common to Greek pottery. In the black-figure style, figures were painted in black slip against the natural red color of the clay, while in the red-figure technique, the figures were left the color of the clay, with the background painted black. The decorative themes often included mythological scenes, depictions of daily life, and scenes of women fetching water—an important domestic task associated with the hydria. Some hydriai, especially those used in funerary or ceremonial contexts, were highly ornate and could feature intricate designs, showing the artistic sophistication of ancient Greek pottery.

Beyond its practical use, the hydria also played a role in religious and funerary rituals. In particular, the hydria was associated with the Greek festival of the Panathenaia, where it was used in ceremonial water-carrying competitions for women. In funerary practices, hydriai were sometimes used as grave markers or containers for the ashes of the deceased. They have been discovered in tombs and sanctuaries, showing their significance beyond everyday utility.