| Collection: | University Museums, University of Mississippi |
| Summary: | Greeks and Amazons. |
| Ware: | Attic Red Figure, White Ground |
| Painter: | Attributed to the Sotheby Painter |
| Context: | From Attica |
| Date: | ca. 460 BC - ca. 450 BC |
| Dimensions: | H. without lid 0.035 m., H. with lid 0.055 m., D. of lid 0.147 m., D. of white ground decoration on lid 0.11 m. |
| Primary Citation: | |
| Shape: | Pyxis |
| Region: | Attica |
| Period: | Early Classical |
Condition:
The white ground is worn off a large section of the lid.
Decoration Description:
The main decorative area of the vase is the white ground area of the lid, which carries a frieze of Greeks and Amazons. An Amazon mounted on a galloping horse looks back over her shoulder at the lasso she swings in the air, apparently about to rope a Greek hoplite who crouches in front of her. She wears the long trousers and long-sleeved shirt typical of Amazons, and in her left hand she carries a battle axe. The crouching hoplite prepares to defend himself with a spear held in his right hand and a shield with a snake shield device held in his left. To the right of this group, another helmeted Greek hoplite stretches back his right hand which holds a rock. He is about to throw it at another Amazon, of whom only the end of her spear is preserved. A small olive tree separates the two groups. The figures are drawn in outline, with areas of solid color added. Purple is used for the Amazon's shoes, the coil of rope around her waist, the shield and the helmets of the Greeks. The snake on the shield is black. The rim of the lid is decorated with diagonal palmettes. The underside of the rim is decorated with a frieze of reserved olive leaves with fruit in added white, as is the lower band of the bowl. The sides of the bowl are glazed, and the bottom is decorated with bands.
This depiction of an Amazon with a lasso is unique in Greek art. Literary sources connect the use of the lasso with nomadic peoples from the East. Pausanias (
The white ground technique, which first becomes popular in the experimental stage of Attic vase painting in the 520's, consists of covering the natural reddish ground of the clay with a thin white "slip" of ultra-refined clay, which remains white after firing. In the earliest usage of this white ground technique, decoration in the standard black-figure technique of silhouette with incision and added color would then be placed against this lighter background. By the early fifth century, many painters switch to an outline technique. As can be seen on this vase, artists using this technique enliven figures drawn in outline with areas of solid added color. From its inception until the mid fifth century, white ground is used primarily for small vases, such as lekythoi, pyxides, and alabastra, and for small areas of larger vases. After the middle of the fifth century, white ground is used only rarely for vases other than lekythoi.
Only three vases have been attributed to the Sotheby Painter, two pyxides and a bobbin, all white ground. In general, white ground pyxides become popular in the Early Classical period. This vase is the only preserved example of a Type C pyxis with white ground decoration.
Shape Description:
The pyxis is a small covered vessel used as a woman's cosmetic box. The Type C pyxis is broad and flat, with slightly incurving sides. This form of pyxis becomes popular in the second half of the fifth century and is produced in many materials. This vase in Mississippi is one of the earliest preserved examples of a Type C pyxis.
Collection History:
Once in the Robinson collection.
Sources Used: