Ancient Greece, Athens (Attic), ca. 6th to 5th century BCE. An exquisite wheel-thrown pottery kalathos (Greek for "basket" or "wagon") with a concave ringed base, a cylindrical body with trimmed central ridges, a wide mouth, and a dramatically-flared rim with a grooved edge. The majority of the body displays a pale orange slip atop which are registers of decorative ivy vines and leaves, zigzagging lines above the center ridge, and a dot-enclosed horizontal stripe, all in a lustrous black glaze. The base has an interior glazed ring and circle while both the rim's exterior and majority of the interior display the same black hue. Though the bottom of the interior is unglazed, faint areas of silvery and rainbow-hued iridescence envelop most glazed surfaces. The kalathos is a scarce form of ancient Greek pottery, making this a rare and elegant example. Size: 4.375" W x 4.5" H (11.1 cm x 11.4 cm).

The kalathos (sometimes calathus) is a large pottery vessel used as a basket for carrying fruit, wool, or other physical items. Typical kalathoi were woven from reeds and sticks and were used in fields for gathering or in the home for storage or transportation. Pottery versions of the kalathos usually replicated the style of the woven baskets, often including painted or glazed motifs which mimic the weaving as is the case with this example. Kalathoi were generally made of a more substantial size, enabling them to carry greater quantities of produce or wool; however, smaller versions of the vessel were created to hold numerous smaller items like berries or seeds. Diminutive examples are exceptionally rare, though this example is one of superb quality and exceptional rarity.

Provenance: private East Coast, USA collection

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#135270

Surface wear and light abrasions commensurate with age as expected, two small drilled perforations on neck, minor fading to pigmentation, small nicks to rim and body, with one stable pressure fissure on bottom. Light earthen deposits and nice silvery and rainbow iridescence throughout. Old inventory sticker underneath foot.