A Red-Figure Xenonware Oinochoe, Magna Graecia, ca. late 4th century BCE

Featuring a lovely red-figure curling scroll of ivy vines above a band of vertical lines, another band of lines decorating the shoulders, the squat form of the body standing on a round foot, an elegant high arching handle, slender neck, and pouring channel with molded tiny masks that flank the base of the spout.

This vase is classified as Xenonware, a collection of Apulian vessels decorated with matte red over black glaze that tended to be small and were most likely used as tomb offerings. Decorative motifs typically include ivy vines, laurel wreaths, key patterns, running esses, chevrons, maeanders, wave patterns, and the occasional bird or animal figure. Xenonware emerged as a hybrid between mainland Greek pottery and colonial Southern Italian manufacturing technique during the mid to late 4th century BCE, and is so named after a kantharos in Frankfurt with the inscription "XENON."

Ref: Padgett, J. Michael, Mary B. Comstock, John J. Herrman, and Cornelius C. Vermeule, Vase Painting in Italy: Red-Figure and Related Works in the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Boston: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, 1993, pg. 214.

Dimensions: Height: 6 1/4 inches (15.9 cm)

Condition: Intact and in excellent condition overall.

Provenance: Acquired by the current owner from Antiquarium, Ltd., NY, December 6, 1988.  Original purchase paperwork accompanies this object.