Description:
A small terracotta lekythos, beautifully decorated with elegant and large palmettes between horizontal bands, the one below filled with semi-triangles in the shape of >, and the one above filled with a meander pattern, a decorative border consisting of a long, unbroken line, repeatedly folding back on itself to form an interlocking pattern. It was an important cultural symbol, symbolising infinity and unity, the eternal flow of life and longevity. The name was derived from the twisting path of the river Maeander in Asia Minor, celebrated in antiquity for its winding course.
Dating:
Greece, Attica, circa 5th century B.C.
Size:
Height 12.5 cm.
Provenance:
Belgian private collection A.D., acquired in the 1970s; thence Arteas Ltd., Paris and London.
Condition:
Handle reattached; some minor losses and minuscule chips; some surface wear and pitting; else intact.
Price:
€ 1,800
Stock number:
C1356