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Attic Vases : Greek Attic Black-Figured Mastoid Cup
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Greek Attic Black-Figured Mastoid Cup - LA.505
Origin: Greece
Circa: 530
BC
to 510
BC
Dimensions:
3.75" (9.5cm) high
Collection: Classical
Medium: Terracotta
Additional Information: Attributed to the Louvre GroupArt Logic--Oscar Blum Gentilomo, 1903-1975, Private Collection 1975 - 2004, Christie's 2004
Location: UAE
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Description |
The ancient Greeks pioneered decorating
vases
in such a way that the composition of
the design
reflected the architectonic shape of the
vessel.
This aesthetic concern is seen to best
advantage
in this cup in which the black glaze
emphasizes
the bottom and top of the vessel and
frames the
continuous band of figural decoration
which
unfolds around the body of the vessel.
That
figural band is treated as if it were a
Greek Ionic
frieze which continually wraps itself
around the
vessel in an uninterrupted manner. The
principal
subject is Dionysos, god of wine and the
revel,
who is depicted as a bearded figure,
luxuriously
draped in a himation, with his long hair
decorated with a wreath of ivy leaves.
In his
outstretched left hand he holds a
rhyton, a
deluxe cup for drinking wine. To the
left and
right are figures of Maenads who frame
Dionysos
by moving in opposite directions. They
turn their
heads back and cast their glance at the
god.
Each Maenad wears a long chiton and has
her
arranged in a sakkos, a kind of Greek
snood.
Maenads, as the female companions of
Dionysos,
personified release from earthly cares
brought
about by wine. They were often depicted,
as
here, dancing in ecstasy. To that end
the Maenad
to the right is playing krotala, an
ancient form of
castanets.
This trio of figures is balanced by a
second group
of three figures, all satyrs. Satyrs are
composite
beasts who, as here, were often depicted
nude
with full beards, tails, horse-legs for
feet, and
pointed, animal ears. In Greek art,
satyrs are
often depicted as companions of
Dionysos, and
symbolize passion, not reason. The first
of the
satyrs moves to the left, holding
another wine-
drinking vessel, in his outstretched
right hand.
He turns his head back and gestures to
one of
the Maenads with his extended left hand.
His two
companions, moving to the right, dance
energetically with feet and arms raised
in the air.
Such a vessel was doubtless used at
symposia,
or drinking parties. The complete lack
of handles
doubtless made it easier for its owner
to hold
this cup at random and easily direct it
to his
mouth by means of the subtle stripe of
red
around the vessel’s lip.
Participants at such symposia not only
drank to
excess but also engaged in sexual
activities with
hatairai, versatile and often highly-
educated
women. The shape of this wine-drinking
cup
alludes to such trysts. Its shape is
derived from
earlier cups created by Corinthian
potters which
imitated the shape of a woman’s breast.
And it is
for that reason that the Greeks called
such a cup
a mastos.
Provenance Oscar Blum Gentilomo (1903-
1975).
- (LA.505)
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