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Oil Jar (Aryballos) in the Form of a Helmeted Head

Oil Jar (Aryballos) in the Form of a Helmeted Head

Unknown

Such sculptural vases were used as perfume or ointment bottles in the late seventh and early sixth centuries. They were probably made on Rhodes, where many have been found, or in Ephesos. This shows a warrior wearing black-glazed Ionian helmet with large, hinged cheek-piece. The warrior’s face is carefully formed with a prominent nose, narrow eyes, painted eyebrows, and mustache. These small vases may have been funerary portraits of dead soldiers or souvenir gifts of military regiments.
Artist
Unknown (Greek)
Title
Oil Jar (Aryballos) in the Form of a Helmeted Head
Date
late 7th century B.C.E.
Period
Hellenistic period
Medium
Earthenware with black-figure decoration
Dimensions
2 5/16 x 2 1/4 in. Overall
Credit
Art Collections Fund and Emily Mead Baldwin Fund purchase
Accession No.
1979.121
Classification
Ceramics
Geography
Greece

Related

8 December 1978, sold by Bruce and Ingrid McAlpine Ancient Art (London, England) to the Elvehjem Museum of Art [now called Chazen Museum of Art]

  • Elvehjem Museum of Art. "Ancient Etruscan and Greek Vases in the Elvehjem Museum of Art." University of Wisconsin Regents. Madison, Wis., 2000. p. 35, no. 14
  • Biers, William. "Ancient Figure Vases in the Elvehjem." Bulletin/Annual Report 1987-1988, Elvehjem Museum of Art (1988): 12-17. pp. 12-17
  • Elvehjem Museum of Art. "Elvehjem Museum of Art Bulletin/Annual Report 1987-1988." Elvehjem Museum of Art, 1989 p. 13

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