Etruscan Geometric Trefoil Oinochoe

Culture: Etruscan

Period: 700-675 B.C.

Material: Terracotta

Dimensions: 29.7 cm high

Price: 8 000 Euro

Ref: 4246

Provenance: Collection A. M., Ascona and Amsterdam, acquired on 3 July 1980 at Marie Laforet S.A. Ventes Publiques in Geneva. With a copy of the invoice.

Condition: Intact except for sinter residue.

Description: Large and wonderfully preserved Etruscan oinochoe with a trefoil mouth, dating to the Geometric Period. The vessel to serve wine stands on a slightly offset ring foot and has an ovoid body. The neck is wide and cylindrical. At the top, the band handle is attached at the back of the trefoil mouth and extends down to the shoulder. The oinochoe is beautifully decorated with geometric motifs. Rising from the base is a six-pointed rays pattern extending to the centre of the vessel. Above this are encircling parallel lines, interrupted by groups of vertical wavy lines. Around the neck is another downward-pointing rays pattern. Finally, the neck is decorated with a metope frieze of opposing triangles.