CULTURE / REGION OF ORIGIN: Greek Colonies of South Italy (probably
Apulian but also possibly Campanian).
DATE: First Half of the 4th Century BCE.
DIMENSIONS: 10.2 cm. (4 in.) in diameter, 7 cm (2.8 in.) tall including  handle.

DESCRIPTION: Intact. A Greek South Italian black glazed Guttus, with a broad low body and wide round shoulder with an impressed circle and raised collar surrounding the vessel’s mouth. It rests on a broad round foot that is concave underneath. A strap-like ring handle is set on the shoulder. The body is covered in fine vertical ribbing with rounded tops at the shoulder, interrupted only by the spout. Rising from the shoulder at roughly a 40 degree angle is the mold made lion headed spout, which shows fine details of the animal’s face, open mouth and ears. Deep incision has been used to create the lion’s mane, exposing the pink clay beneath. The entire vessel is covered in black, still somewhat glossy, except for the reserved underside of the foot. There are a few very tiny chips from the raised collar, and a very shallow scratch that does not penetrate the black slip running around the lower body. Remains of a now missing old label under the foot. A dramatic example of this type.

PROVENANCE: Formerly the property of an English owner, acquired 30 years earlier.

PUBLISHED: Bonhams, ANTIQUITIES, 1 May, 2008, London, Page 202, illustrated in color on Page 203

COMPARISONS: Giacinto Matteucig, Poggio Buco, The Necropolis of Statonia, University of California Press, Berkeley, 1951, #12 from Tomb D and  #6 & #7 from Tomb B, for very similar examples. Also, John W. Hayes, Etruscan and Italic Pottery in the Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, 1985, #B5 & #B6 for related examples from the early 7th Century BCE to close to 700 BCE.