Caption

Orientalising pyxis in the Silhouette style with depictions of sphinxes and animals; attributed to Corinth; dated 590–550 BC Middle to Late Corinthian periods. Asymmetrical, thin-walled, three-legged pyxis with a lid. The walls are slightly concave and the bottom flat. Outer surface at the rim edge has a wide band of black varnish, narrower below. Decoration in three areas: two sphinxes and a panther executed in silhouette technique, with a small amount of simplified filling ornamentation. Inner surface left the color of the clay except for a ~4 mm black-painted strip beneath the rim. The lid repeats a silhouette motif from the body. Surface smooth, shiny and evenly distributed varnish; cleaned pale yellow clay with visible turning traces. Visible losses on the lid. Clay color: 2.5 Y 8/3 pale yellow. Varnish color: 2.5 Y 3/1 very dark gray. Type: Corinthian pyxis vessel. Height 7.5 cm, width 8.5 cm, weight 0.118 kg., A small round lidded ceramic container sits on a neutral gray surface against a darker gray background; the vessel and lid are primarily beige with prominent black painted decorative motifs, including bold abstract shapes and patterned bands; the lid has a low central knob and radiating black designs, while the body shows a repeating black figure-like motif framed by linear borders; the piece rests on small projecting feet and shows areas of wear where the beige base and black decoration have slight abrasions.

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26A01_351

License type

Rights managed

Available size

84.4Mb (1.1Mb) / 18.1in x 18.1in / 5431 x 5431 (300dpi)

Keywords

Orientalising pyxis Silhouette style depictions sphinxes animals attributed Corinth dated 590–550 BC Middle Late Corinthian periods Asymmetrical thin-walled three-legged pyxis lid walls slightly concave bottom flat Outer surface rim edge wide band black varnish narrower Decoration three areas two sphinxes panther executed silhouette technique small amount simplified filling ornamentation Inner surface left color clay except ~4 mm black-painted strip beneath rim lid repeats silhouette motif body Surface smooth shiny evenly distributed varnish cleaned pale yellow clay visible turning traces Visible losses Clay color 2.5 Y 8 3 pale yellow Varnish color 2.5 Y 3 1 dark gray Type Corinthian pyxis vessel Height 7.5 cm width 8.5 cm weight 0.118 kg small round lidded ceramic container sits neutral gray surface darker gray background vessel primarily beige prominent black painted decorative motifs bold abstract shapes patterned bands low central knob radiating black designs repeating black figure- motif framed linear borders piece rests small projecting feet areas wear beige base black decoration slight abrasions.