alabastron

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Object Type
Museum number: 1847,0806.53
Description: Pottery: black figure alabastron. Design black on drab ground, with accessories of purple, white and buff. Above the design, tongue-pattern and maeander; crenelle-pattern interspersed with dots, drab on black. Below, maeander, drab on black. On either side of the vase is an ear. Frieze of four Maenads moving to right in pairs; the right hand one of each pair looks back. Each wears a long striped chiton with sleeves and purple spots above, over which is a nebris knotted in front, painted over in buff; each holds a large branch in right hand. The hair of the two on the left is gathered up under a band wound several times round the head, appearing in a tuft over the forehead, and a top-knot at the back of the head; that of the others is covered by a close cap, and falls over the neck, with a tuft in front.
Cultures/periods
Production date: 520BC-500BC
Production place: Made in: Attica (Greece)
Materials
Ware
Technique: painted; incised
Dimensions: Height: 12.95 centimetres
Bibliographic references: Vase / Catalogue of Vases in the British Museum (B669); Old Catalogue / A Catalogue of the Greek and Etruscan Vases in the British Museum (695*)
Location: Not on display
Condition: Badly damaged; part broken away.
Subjects
Associated names
Acquisition name
Acquisition date: 1847
Department: Greek and Roman
Registration number: 1847,0806.53

Free entry