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Cylindrical container (pyxis) and lid
Greek
Late Geometric Period
760–740 B.C.
Place of Manufacture: Greece, Attica, Athens
Medium/Technique
Ceramic
Dimensions
Height: 23.5 cm (9 1/4 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Landon T. Clay
Accession Number1970.232
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAncient Greece and Rome
ClassificationsVessels
DescriptionOn lid, four horses at center; horses mainly dark slip, but have lines, reserved lines, and band of tangential circles at lower neck. Bands of concentric decoration on lid include dots and tangential circles. On body, band of zig-zags; main band contains various motives in panels and metopes, including hatched swastikas, M's (double chevrons), quatre-foils and hatched meanders. On bottom, concentric bands of decoration, including dotted wavy line, flower with 17 hatched petals, and 16-point star at center.
Vessels of this type are most commonly found in burials of women and probably served as containers for food or jewelry. The pyxis belongs to the "Agora Group" (Bouzek).
Vessels of this type are most commonly found in burials of women and probably served as containers for food or jewelry. The pyxis belongs to the "Agora Group" (Bouzek).
ProvenanceJune 22-23, 1951, sale (auction 10), Münzen und Medaillen, A.G., Basel, lot 394. December 13, 1969, sale (auction 40), Münzen und Medaillen, A.G., Basel, lot 29, to Landon T. Clay, Boston; 1970, gift of Landon T. Clay to the MFA. (Accession Date: March 11, 1970)