Late Classical

Late Classical East Greek Gilded Silver Rhyton in the Form of a Fawn's Head, 4th century B.C.E., H. 22. 5 cm. © Miho Museum This vessel was beaten from a single sheet of metal to form the deer head, and then the ears and handle were attached to that form. Thin hairs and eyelashes are carved on the face, and black pigment made in the niello technique of silver surface was then applied to the grooves of these incised lines. The eyelashes are the most visibly extant example of this technique. Recent research shows that the nostrils on... [Lire la suite]

Late Classical Greek Bronze Rhyton with a Stag Protome, Late Classical, ca. 4th century B.C.E., Asia Minor-Black Sea Region. Bronze, H. 37 cm. © Miho Museum This rhyton is an example of a special type of vessel that was used by the Greeks for religious rituals. The word rhyton derives from the Greek verb "to pour through," which accurately describes what happens when liquid is added to the rhyton's flared mouth, since it immediately passes through the vessel and streams out through the open spout on the other end. This slender... [Lire la suite]

Terra-cotta bell-krater (mixing bowl). Attributed to Python. Late Classical, ca. 360–350 B.C. Greek, South Italian, Paestan. Terra-cotta; red-figure. Diameter 14 1/2 in. (36.8cm). Image © The Metropolitan Museum of Art. NEW YORK - Last week, the Metropolitan Museum of Art gave up a large painted terracotta vase that had been illegally excavated from an ancient burial ground in Italy to the district attorney. The ancient Greek vessel, a krater, shows Dionysus, god of the grape harvest, riding in a cart. In a second bombshell,... [Lire la suite]

Terracotta rhyton (vase for libations or drinking). Attributed to the Patera-Ganymede Workshop. Greek, South Italian, Apulian, Late Classical, ca. 350–300 B.C. H. 6 1/2 in. (16.5 cm). Rogers Fund, 1903. Accession Number: 03.3.3. © 2000–2012 The Metropolitan Museum of Art.  The rhyton is in the form of a sheep's head. On the cuff is Eros flying with a casket.

Terracotta rhyton (vase for libations or drinking), Greek, South Italian, Apulian, Late Classical, ca. 350–300 B.C. H.: 7 1/4 in. (18.4 cm) Diam.: 3 7/8 in. (9.8 cm). Bequest of Walter C. Baker, 1971. Accession Number:1972.118.150. © 2000–2012 The Metropolitan Museum of Art.  The vase is in the form of a deer's head. On the cuff is a flying Nike.