Glaux...please give a hoot!

I wanted one for ages, but there are lots of fakes about and I lost one in a sale by reputable dealer. So when HJB did a bid and buy I bought it straight off.

Apulian 4th C BC red ware Skyphos Glaux Kylix.



2 3/4" x 5 "
As I understand it it is a type A skyphos that is with handles of the same form opposed where type B has one handle vertical.
Red-ware is the painting technique where a natural red clay vessel is overpainted with black and the figures are framed by black backing.Then heated in a kiln.
A Skyphos is the name of the type of vessel raised from a foot in a gentle cup shape.
Kylix is the designation-a drinking cup.
Glaux is Greek for Owl.
I believe that Apulia is in Italy and was part of Magna Grecia.
Burials were arranged with clay figures and pots that were often associated with symposia-sex and drinking- Glaux, Kraters, Kantharos and Lekythos .
Greek wine was diluted before drinking and the host dictated the ratio in the Krater-a mixing bowl , it was imbibed from a Kylix.
I have not read this but, I suppose at a funeral wine was mixed in the Krater and mourners drank a toast from the Glaux.

 

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Nice kylix. The owl design make the pottery very cute-looking.

 

It's beautiful. I've wanted one of these as well, for a long time, to add to my antiquities collection. Like you, though, I'm very wary of fakes -- I won't be buying one from Ebay! Yes, Apulia is in Italy; most of the ancient red-figure vases on the market are from Southern Italy. I'm holding out for one from Attica someday, though, despite the fact that they tend to be much more expensive.

 

Do you plan on drinking out of it? Dumb question for sure. But if I personally had antiquities you bet I would absolutely use them for their original purposes

 

Beautiful! I’m reminded of this one from the Carlos Museum in Atlanta:

 

This is really great. Congrats, and thanks for sharing!

 

I will inspect it for cracks then decide about using it.

 

Did Berk describe the item as intact as found? If not, it was most likely reassembled from pieces with conservation. Was it described as lead free? Waterproof? Dishwasher safe? Easily replaceable? There are decent looking modern reproductions for those who want to drink like an ancient person but I would ask those same questions before using them. "First, do no harm" is not a concept limited to the medical profession.

 

I would advise against using it. Get a replica. These are fragile, possibly prone to staining, and quite likely to contain toxic ingredients in the paint or glaze. Some people have hypothesized that a ‘plague’ at Caesarea Maritima after the Islamic conquest was caused by the Arabs using Byzantine ceramics to store citrus, which released more lead than typical from the glaze.

 

I'll think I'll take your and doug's advice!

 

necroscopies performed on Roman remains show high levels of lead leading to early death. Using their drinking mugs can cause you similar problems unless you only do it once or rarely. Your call.

 

Not at all would be better. Although the toxicity of lead is over rated. Since I was born in 1956 till 1994 most UK cars had Lead tetraethyl (invented by an American) as an anti-knock additive in the petrol. On combustion all kinds of lead compounds were volatilized and blown out the exhaust. I must have inhaled a significant amount of lead and all the plants too, but I see no long (or short) term problems truly associated with the lead pollution.
Now nitrous oxides.......is another story.
I think people upto the 20th century always had a swathe of disease stuff ready to scythe them down. The biggest progress was not antibiotics but Hygiene,clean water and proper sewerage disposal, Health & safety,less adulterated food and food storage-refrigeration and not over-crowded living conditions.
Hear endeth the lesson!