Northern Italy, Villanovan, ca. 9th to 8th century BCE. A nicely-detailed black kyathos, a single-handled dipper that stands on a diminutive, flat base. Around the corseted area are three equidistangly placed spikes surrounded by relief arches; these alternate with pairs of vertical frets, also delineated in relief. This is a very early example of a vessel shape that would later become highly refined by the Etruscans and then the Greeks. Size: 6.625" W at widest point x 4.375" H (16.8 cm x 11.1 cm)

The Villanovans inhabited Italy during the early Iron Age, and much of what we know of them comes from excavations of cemeteries (the first at Villanova near Bologna in northern Italy) where they cremated the dead and buried them in pottery urns in a very distinctive, double-cone shape. In the 8th century, Greek colonists arrived in the region, and began to influence Villanovan ceramics and their forms, as with this kyathos.

Provenance: private Orange County, California, USA collection acquired before 2000

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#130998

Normal surface wear with scuffs and nicks as shown, abraded area on the base, all commensurate with age. Possibly a one inch section of handle resurfaced.