Conical widening body with omphalos-shaped base. The frieze shows lions each attacking a bull and two gazelles. The slight asymmetry of the vessel's shape is due to a manufacturing error.
Stylistically, the piece stands between Egyptian and non-Egyptian faience alabastra. Technique, style and colour suggest a proximity to Egyptian late period faience alabastra. The design and motif of the lion bullfight can be traced back to Egyptian models. The manufacturing defect speaks against a genuine Egyptian origin. The gazelles are a motif of Near Eastern art. It is more likely that they were imitated by Eastern Greek craftsmen (Rhodes?), since unsuccessful goods would never have been exported by the Egyptians. The piece falls into the Orientalising phase of Greek art. The Alabastron, which comes from an Etruscan tomb in Cerveteri (Caere), is evidence of the intensive long-distance trade that the Etruscans engaged in. (AVS)
Former August Kestner Collection, Rome
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