Attic Black-Figure White Ground Lidded Pyxis

An ancient Attic Greek black-figure lidded pyxis, around the cylindrical body are four maenads with krotaloi (castanets) dancing with three cavorting nude satyrs; on the flat lid with pointed handle is a frieze of seven running lions. The painting is close to the Haimon Painter.

Athens, Attica.

Ca. 460 - 450 BC.

Height: 4 3/4 in. (12.1 cm).Diameter: 3 5/8 in. (9.3 cm).

The pyxis was a lidded cylindrical vessel mostly used by women to hold cosmetics, trinkets or jewelry. Surviving pyxides from the Classical Period are mostly ceramic, but sometimes they are made of wood, metal, or ivory. The name derived from Corinthian boxes made of wood from the boxwood tree (puxos).

Formerly in an English private collection.

Inv#: 8632

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