Attributed to the Ampersand Painter

Greek, Corinthian, ca. 585-575 B.C.

Terracotta

H: 22 cm (8.6 in)

Serial: 25055

This elegant and cleanly potted black-figure amphora has a great precision of forms which undoubtedly refers to a metallic prototype. Its complex pictorial design was made by incision lines and added red for the details. The shoulder frieze represents a standing siren with dis-played wings flanked by two swans, grazing goat, panther and bird, with several rosettes and dots in the field. This frieze is separated by thin horizontal bands, two of them dotted. The central frieze has large stylized floral motifs flanked by panthers, a pair of grazing goats and two further panthers, also with rosettes and dots in the field, and a broad band below. The decoration of the lower part of the vase consists of rays beautifully rendered above the foot, which has concentric circles underneath.

Only about fifteen vases have been attributed to the Ampersand Painter, who was active ca. 600-575 B.C. A contemporary of the Dodwell Painter, a leading artist of Corinthian vase production of the period, he is thought to have worked out of the same workshop. The designs are characterized exclusively by friezes of animals, real and imaginary. The painter’s trademarks include small, compact feline faces with staring eyes, grazing goats, and dotted floral stems.

CONDITION

Complete, no restoration; layers of deposits inside the neck, around the lip, on top of handles, underneath the foot; painting partially abraded and chipped especially on side B.

PROVENANCE

Münzen und Medaillen, Basel, 13 December 1969, lot 41; Ex- European private collection, Germany.

PUBLISHED

Münzen und Medaillen, Basel, 13 December 1969, lot 41;

FABULOUS MONSTERS, Phoenix Ancient Art 2021/40, New York, no. 2