Apulian Gnathia Epichysis

An ancient Apulian Greek Gnathia epichysis with a spool-shaped body and long, slender neck with two faces at the base of the mouth, decorated with rays, bands of grape vines and ovolo in applied white, gold, and red, and a dove perched on a xylophone on the lower body.

Apulia, Magna Graecia, South Eastern Italy.
Ca. 350 - 300 BC.
Height: 6 3/4 in. (17.1 cm).

Gnathia ware is so named as it was first found at the Apulian site of Egnathia. The black glaze ware is often decorated with applied red, white, or yellow painted floral motifs. Production probably was centered around Taras, with workshops in Egnathia, Canosa and Sicily.The output and quality of the Greek colonial potters working in Southern Italy increased greatly following the Peloponnesian War when Attic exports fell off sharply. South Italian Colonial Greek craftsmanship of the 4th century BC was an amalgamation of the Ionian (Athenian, Attic) conventions, and Doric (western colonial Greek) styles, with a noticeable native Italian aesthetic. The five predominant regional schools of South Italian pottery were: Apulian, Sicilian, Lucanian, Paestan, and Campanian.

Formerly in an American private collection.
Inv#: 8802
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