WHAT: An ancient large vase made in southern Italy as utilitarian pottery then finely decorated, circa 330 B.C. to 300 B.C., brought $43,020 last month in a sale of antiquities at Artemis Gallery in Boulder County, Colo. Standing 39 inches high, the vase is decorated in red-figure style, a technique that allows for clear definition against the red of the vase. White, yellow and beige pigments add detail.
MORE: One side features warriors framed by an Ionic temple. Above them, a female bust emerges from a blossom — a stylistic touch that leads scholars to two known painters of the period. To create an analogy, it would be like finding a crock painted by Leonardo or Michelangelo.
Additional touches such as vertical rays, palmettes and ivy leaves indicate a high level of artistic skill.
SMART COLLECTORS KNOW: The vase is an amphora, which in Greek means “to carry on both sides.” Characterized by a narrow neck and handles on both sides of the body, amphorae were used to carry liquids and to pour or store grain. This vase was made to be useful. Its beauty is an absolute plus.
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HOT TIP: Because zero to few examples of ancient Greek painting exist, vase decorations provide the only alternative for scholars and collectors to observe visual arts of the time.
BOTTOM LINE: As an added bonus, the auction house had provenance of previous exhibitions featuring the vase. That always helps the bottom line!
FYI: In a previous column, we provided the summer 2017 lineup of tapings for “Antiques Roadshow.” Now the series has added an additional stop in Gillette, Wyo. It will be the first time that “Roadshow” has been to the state. For info on free tickets go to http://pbs.org/antiques/tickets or call toll-free 888-762-3749.
