Cylindrical Jar

This cylindrical jar is decorated with a singular frieze that contains two scenes of rabbits placing their front paws upon the heads of deer who prostrate themselves. Rosettes fill the surrounding space between the animals. The frieze stands upon layers of painted linear stripes. One handle has been lost, as has the original lid.

This jar, likely from Corinth, marks an early point in Greek black-figure vase painting. Corinthian artists and workshops innovated both technically and artistically by experimenting with what is called “black-figure” technique to decorate their ceramics. “Black-figure” is done through applying a slip (a mixture of fine clay and water) to the areas intended to be black. The slip would turn black during the firing process. Corinthian artists used black-figure to create their signature animal and figurative scenes. Corinth was a major ceramic production center during the Archaic period and created goods that were traded within Greece and around the Mediterranean.

Provenance

Provenance (from the French provenir, 'to come from/forth') is the chronology of the ownership, custody, or location of a historical object. Learn more about provenance at the Walters.

H. Schliemann, Athens, by 1883 [mode of acquisition unknown]. E. Zoumpoulakis, Athens, [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Joseph Brummer, Paris and New York, 1924, by purchase [Brummer inv. no. P1484]; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1925, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.