An Apulian red-figure Pelike, circa fourth century B.C. the A side a depicting a richly dressed and ornamented dancing maenad, holding a thrysus and a large ribboned tympanum, with a sash, ivy and rosettes in the field, side B depicting a richly dressed and ornamented seated female figure to the left, holding a phiale and a xylophone, facing to the right a standing winged Eros wearing jewellery and holding a wreath and arrows side a with a band of laurel at the neck and side B with a band of palmettes, each scene enlivened with white and ochre paint, with a meander and saltire squares baseline, a ring of strokes around the base of the handles with palmettes below, elsewhere reserved, (losses to surface), 24.9 cm high Provenance: ex Graham Geddes collection; ex Haley's 2003
You must be a subscriber, and be logged in to view price and dealer details.
Subscribe Now to view actual auction price for this item
When you subscribe, you have the option of setting the currency in which to display prices to $Au, $US, $NZ or Stg.
This item has been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.
- Circa - A Latin term meaning 'about', often used in the antique trade to give an approximate date for the piece, usually considered to be five years on either side of the circa year. Thus, circa 1900 means the piece was made about 1900, probably between 1895 and 1905. The expression is sometimes abbreviated to c.1900.
- Laurel Leaf - The use of the laurel leaf as a decorative element can be traced back to ancient Greece and Rome, where it was closely associated with victory and honour. In these cultures, the laurel was a sacred tree that was dedicated to the god Apollo and was believed to have protective and healing properties.
In ancient Greece, the laurel wreath was awarded to victors in athletic competitions, such as the Olympic Games, as a symbol of their achievement. The wreath was also associated with academic achievement, and was often worn by scholars and poets. The Greeks also used the laurel leaf as a symbol of victory in war, and it was often depicted in artwork alongside images of triumphant warriors and heroes.
The Romans continued this tradition, and the laurel wreath became a symbol of the highest military honor, the triumph, awarded to victorious generals. The wreath was also used to crown emperors and other important officials, and was often depicted in Roman art and architecture as a symbol of power and authority.
The laurel leaf is still used as a symbol of achievement, success, and excellence, and is frequently used in logos, emblems, and other branding materials. Its association with victory and honour has made it a popular choice for awards, medals, and other forms of recognition.
This item has been included into following indexes: