Advanced Search 
Pitcher (oinochoe)
Greek, South Italian
Early Hellenistic Period
about 320–310 B.C.
Place of Manufacture: Italy, Apulia
Medium/Technique
Ceramic, Red Figure
Dimensions
39.5 cm (15 9/16 in.)
Credit Line
Museum purchase with funds donated by contribution
Accession Number89.276
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsEurope, Ancient Greece and Rome
ClassificationsVessels
Catalogue Raisonné
Vase-Painting in Italy (MFA), no. 072.
DescriptionPrincipal design, in white and yellow, a head of Nike, with wings. Slightly restored and retouched.
ITALIAN VASE PAINTING in ITALY, # 72 - (89.276)
Oinochoe (shape 1)
Attributed to the White SakkosPainter
about 320-310 B.C.
In the center, rendered in yellow and white, the head of Nike emerges from a large flower. She looks up to her right, her face in three-quarter view. Her blonde hair escapes in front from beneath her sakkos. A necklace with black pendants circles her fleshy neck, and short wings spread out on either side of the head. Below this is a rich floral pattern of acanthus,flowers, and scrolling tendrils, with many details in white and yellow.
There is a large complex of palmettes and scrolls on the back and a band of dotted egg-pattern on the shoulder. On the neck are white rays below three horizontal lines. Two reserved stripes circle the lower body.
Such heads are usually identified as Nike, although Cambitoglou has suggested some may represent the effeminate Apulian form of Eros; see RVAp, II, p. 648, and the comments on cat. no. 21. For the White Sakkos Painter, see comments on cat. no. 69. Compare three jugs in Bari with similar heads of Nike. (RVAp,II,p.971, nos. 29/118-120).
ITALIAN VASE PAINTING in ITALY, # 72 - (89.276)
Oinochoe (shape 1)
Attributed to the White SakkosPainter
about 320-310 B.C.
In the center, rendered in yellow and white, the head of Nike emerges from a large flower. She looks up to her right, her face in three-quarter view. Her blonde hair escapes in front from beneath her sakkos. A necklace with black pendants circles her fleshy neck, and short wings spread out on either side of the head. Below this is a rich floral pattern of acanthus,flowers, and scrolling tendrils, with many details in white and yellow.
There is a large complex of palmettes and scrolls on the back and a band of dotted egg-pattern on the shoulder. On the neck are white rays below three horizontal lines. Two reserved stripes circle the lower body.
Such heads are usually identified as Nike, although Cambitoglou has suggested some may represent the effeminate Apulian form of Eros; see RVAp, II, p. 648, and the comments on cat. no. 21. For the White Sakkos Painter, see comments on cat. no. 69. Compare three jugs in Bari with similar heads of Nike. (RVAp,II,p.971, nos. 29/118-120).
ProvenanceBy 1889: with R. Lanciani (purchased in Rome from Sig. Marinangeli; said to be from Ruvo); purchased by MFA from R. Lanciani, 1889