Etruscan 500-470 B.C. Ochre clay, orange-red coating.

H. (without lid): 13 13/16 in; 35.1 cm
 

On each side of the vessel, a group of figures moving to right. The armed male dancer with turned back head holds a round shield, lance and cloak. The female dancer rhythmically accompanies their movements with the crotala which she holds in both hands. A frieze of double palmettes on the neck and a frieze of tongues on the shoulder. An ornament made up of seven standing or pendant palmettes and a lotus blossom below the handles between the two figural scenes. A corona of rays and an encircling band of cross-shaped blossoms above the foot. Some details and the upper side of the foot accentuated with thin glaze. The lid is decorated with stripes and dots and is probably belonging.

Resassembled from fragments. A fragment at the rim and some smaller lacunae in the body restored, minor lacunae at the joins filled in and retouched. Misfired red on one side below the handle. The painting is partially lost in this area.

This Etruscan imitation of Attic models probably refers to the pyrrhichios, an important war dance that played a significant role in ancient Greek life and was performed at the Panathenaea. Mythological tales describe exceptionally well trained kouretes and Amazons performing the pyrrhichios.

Formerly priv. coll. Prof. Adler Kurt., Basel, acquired September 1979. Thence by descent in the family.