pyxis
- Museum number
- 1911,0416.3
- Description
-
Flat pottery pyxis with four horses standing on the lid.
Clay: soft buff clay, white grits, dull brown-black paint.
Shape: pyxis - inset flanged lip, sloping upwards towards inner edge; two opposed pairs of holes matching those in lid. Near-vertical body, flat base. Lid - conical, with flattened centre: a platform for four horses (the muzzles broken off from two).
Decoration: Pyxis - paint on lip. Body, metopal zone between zigzag above and dots below: swastikas (double dot rows in spaces) alternating with ‘sunbursts’ (fringed circles enclosing ring of dotted tangential circles, dots in spaces, dotted circle at centre); as ‘triglyphs’, columns of latticing between vertical zigzags. Under base: ‘rosette’ of eleven latticed leaves in double outline, stars in the outer field, inner spaces coated; central double circle enclosing obliterated motif; near edge, dots between lines; (lid) from rim: dots, zigzag, dots. Horses: dark ground, traces of reserved designs on necks; in front and behind, various latticed motifs.
- Production date
- 735BC-720BC
- Dimensions
-
Diameter: 32 centimetres (of lid)
-
Diameter: 29 centimetres (of rim)
-
Height: 26 centimetres (with lid)
- Curator's comments
- CVA:
This pyxis, with its relaxed metopal decoration with expanded ‘triglyphs’, is one of the latest works of the particularly prolific Workshop of Agora P 4784. A four-horse team on the lid is normal for the workshop.
Bibliography: Ker. XIII, 66-70, XI.38.
- Location
- Not on display
- Condition
- nearly complete, mended, restored, worn.
- Acquisition date
- 1911
- Department
- Greek and Roman
- Registration number
- 1911,0416.3
