Pitcher (Olpe) with Friezes of Sphinxes, Swans, Panthers, and Lions

In Corinth, a large mercantile center that traded with the West and the Near East, new styles of pottery decoration developed during the 8th century B.C. that incorporated motifs from Egypt and Mesopotamia. This Corinthian olpe is dated about 640-620 BC. The body of the vase is covered with friezes (rows) of animals drawn in profile with the space between filled with rosettes. The Egyptian motif of a swan flanked by two sphinxes who face one another is common in the work of the artist identified as the Painter of Vatican 73, meaning this artist whose name is unknown was first identified in the Vatican Museum collections. Because so few Greek vases were signed by either the potter or the painter, we often refer to the artist by citing a prominent example in a particular museum, such as the Painter of Vatican 73 or the Elvehjem Painter, or a prominent motif used by the artist. Early transitional olpe has flaring lip, tripartite handle terminating in two rotelli at the lip, small ring foot. The neck is black-glazed with dot-rosettes in added red. Four bands of animal friezes all in black and red on buff-colored clay; the top focuses on swan with sphinx and panther facing; row two shows goat and panther flanked by a pair of lions with stag under handle; row three shows central swan between facing sphinxes, with panther, lion, goat, bull around; row four has goat under handles and lions, boars, stags. Black rosettes fill space between animals. The groundlines that separate the friezes are black with an overlay of added red. There is zone of 20 rays at base; underneath the foot a central black dot within two concentric circles