Exterior: view from below

Overview: exterior with four horses on the lid

Collection: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Summary: Pyxis with four plastically modeled horses decorating the lid
Ware: Attic Geometric
Painter: Attributed to the Agora Group
Date: ca. 750 BC
Dimensions:

H 0.235 m (with lid) D 0.301 m
Shape: Pyxis
Ceramic Phase: Attic LG 1a
Period: Geometric

Condition:

The surface of the vessel is worn.

Decoration Description:

The sides of the vessel are convex, and decorated with a pattern of alternating meanders, swastikas, and quatrefoils, separated by vertical bands of chevrons. Above and below this decoration are hatched bands. The lid is decorated with concentric lines, rows of dots, and rows of triangles. The four plastically modeled horses on the lid are ornamented with stripes and a zigzag pattern around their necks.

This pyxis is unusual because of its large size, and because there are four, rather than three or two, horses on the lid (Vermeule, 114).

Collection History:

Münzen und Medaillen A.G. Auktion 40 (13 Dec. 1969), 15, no. 40. Gift of Landon T. Clay.

Sources Used:

C. Vermeule "Recent Museum Acquisitions. Greek Vases in Boston: Attic Geometric to Sicilian Hellenistic" Burlington Mag (February 1973) 114, fig. 61; Schefold 1960, 8, 125, 128, no. 43

Other Bibliography:

Coldstream 1968, 47-51, pl. 9