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Lot 288
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Archaic East Greek Grey Ware Alabastron
Archaic East Greek Grey Ware Alabastron
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Eastern Mediterranean, East Greek (Aeolian/Ionian), ca. 650–550 BCE. A slender, spindle-shaped vessel turned from fine grey clay, its elongated body tapering to a softly rounded base and rising to a short neck capped by a broad, disc-like everted rim. Encircling grooves articulate the surface in measured bands, lending the form a quiet rhythm and exploiting the lathe-like precision of the wheel. The smoky monochrome fabric, fired in a reducing atmosphere to the characteristic grey of East Greek workshops, recalls the so-called "Aeolian bucchero" tradition that flourished along the coast of Asia Minor and the adjacent islands during the Archaic period.

As an alabastron, the vessel was designed to hold perfumed oils and unguents, its narrow body suited to the slow, controlled pour required by costly aromatic substances. The flat, projecting rim served as a stopper-seat and as a tool for spreading oil across the skin. Such vessels accompanied bathers and athletes in life and frequently traveled with their owners into the grave, deposited as offerings of personal adornment and ritual purification. The grey-ware variant, less familiar than its Corinthian and Etruscan painted cousins, attests to the wide East Greek koine of shapes and to the sober elegance prized by Ionian potters. Accompanied by custom display stand. Size: 1.3" D x 8.3" H (3.3 cm D x 21.1 cm H).

Provenance: private Brooklyn, New York, USA collection. Ex Royal Athena Gallery, Jerry Eisenberg collection, New York, NY, USA

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Item # 190427

  • Condition: Very Good. A few stable hairline fissures in areas, as well as minor chipping to base. Age-expected surface wear as shown. Otherwise, intact and excellent with scattered earthen deposits. Accompanied by included custom stand.

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by Artemis Fine Arts
June 25, 2026 9:00 AM MDT
686 S. Taylor Avenue
Suite 108
Louisville, CO, US 80027

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000