Attic Owl Skyphos

Culture: Greek/attic

Period: 440-400 B.C.

Material: Terracotta

Dimensions: 8.9 cm high; 16.7 cm in diameter (including handle)

Price: 2 800 Euro

Ref: 2629

Provenance: From the collection of the French artist Paul Duchein (1930-2024), acquired on 1 October 1982 from Nicholas Koutoulakis. Accompanied by the original invoice.

Condition: On the rim three large shards were professionally reassembled without missing parts, otherwise very beautifully preserved.

Description: Beautifully painted owl skyphos from an Attic workshop. Depicted is a little owl (“Athene Noctua”), the owl as the symbol for Athena, the tutelary goddess of the city. The bird sits on one side facing to the right, on the opposite side to the left with resting wings. Its round eyes looking at the viewer. The head and the wings are decorated with dots, the plumage is accentuated by lines. The owl is flanked by vertical olive branches, which are also considered as a symbol of Athena. The vessel with a horizontal handle stands on a set off foot ring. The base with black circles with a central dot. Owl skyphoi such as the present one were popular in the entire Greek world and were exported as far as to Etruria. As of the 4th century B.C. similar vessels were also produced in southern Italian colonies.