Magna Graecia, Southern Italy, ca. 325 BCE. A black-glazed pottery guttos (oil pouring vessel) of a characteristically squat, rounded form with a single trumpet-shaped spout, a ribbed, ring-like handle attached to the upper wall, and, in low relief in the center, the face of a Gorgon like Medusa, her snake-like hair writhing around her head and her face solemn. The concept of the gorgon, a frightening, beast-like, female creature, is at least as old as Homer and continued to be used as a monstrous symbol throughout the Greco-Roman period, especially popular as decoration on pottery. A guttos like this example would have been used by the ancients for holding precious oil to fill oil lamps. Size: 5.05" L x 4.25" W x 3.45" H (12.8 cm x 10.8 cm x 8.8 cm)

Provenance: private Carlton collection, Los Angeles, California, USA, acquired between 1965 and 1980

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#125543

Intact, with very nice remaining detail. Beautiful silvery iridescent patina.