Greek kylix with palmettes decoration

ITEM: Kylix with palmettes decoration
MATERIAL: Pottery
CULTURE: Greek
PERIOD: 4th Century B.C
DIMENSIONS: 50 mm x 165 mm x 103 mm
CONDITION: Good condition, repaired
PROVENANCE: Ex French private collection, acquired before 1990s

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 4 to 6 weeks and has a cost of 5% of the amount of the sale, this amount will be added to the final invoice.

The kylix, a shallow, broad cup with horizontal handles and a short foot, was one of the most common forms of Greek pottery, valued for its practicality and elegance. Palmettes, a stylized floral motif resembling the leaves of a palm tree, were a frequent decorative element in Greek pottery, appearing both as primary designs and as supplementary ornamentation. On kylikes, palmettes were often arranged symmetrically, sometimes in combination with other patterns such as lotus blossoms, meanders, or tendrils, enhancing the aesthetic appeal of the vessel.

The use of palmette decoration on a kylix was not merely ornamental; it also reflected broader artistic and cultural trends in Greek ceramics. Palmettes were a common motif in black-figure and red-figure pottery, especially during the Archaic and Classical periods (6th–4th centuries BCE). In black-figure kylikes, palmettes were often painted in black glaze against the natural clay background, while in red-figure examples, the motif was created by leaving the design in the red clay color while painting the background black. These decorative elements were typically arranged in bands around the vessel's body or beneath the handles, sometimes interwoven with tendrils or scrollwork to create a continuous flowing pattern. The symmetry and repetition of the palmette motif reflected the Greek appreciation for balance and harmony in art.

Beyond their artistic significance, kylikes with palmette decoration also carried symbolic meanings. The palmette was associated with fertility, regeneration, and divine protection, making it an appropriate motif for a drinking vessel used in symposia, where discussions of philosophy, politics, and culture took place. The kylix itself was a key object in the Greek symposium, a social gathering where wine consumption was ritualized and often accompanied by music, poetry, and intellectual debate. Many kylikes, including those adorned with palmettes, were also dedicated as votive offerings in sanctuaries or placed in graves, suggesting their role in both daily life and religious practice.