This polychrome terracotta askos from Canosa, dating to the 3rd century BC, is a remarkable example of funerary pottery produced in southern Italy during the Hellenistic period, particularly in the Apulia region, where the city of Canosa di Puglia (Canusium in antiquity) flourished. This ceramic type, characteristic of Apulian necropolises, combines Greek influences with elements of Italic art, reflecting the intense cultural exchange of the period. The vessel's shape is particularly unique: a globular body with a narrow base that rises on a central axis topped by three open cylindrical mouths, arranged in a triangle and visually connected by elaborate decoration. This arrangement suggests a ritual function, probably linked to liquid offerings in funerary contexts. The horizontal side handles complete the composition, allowing for ceremonial handling. The body of the vase is decorated with abundant and complex iconography painted in ochre, reddish, and black tones against the light terracotta background. Geometric motifs stand out: bands of wavy lines, spirals, fillets, grids, and chains of circles that run horizontally across the vessel, enveloping its surface with a visual rhythm reminiscent of Greek geometric painting, though freely reinterpreted by local workshops. However, the most striking feature of this askos is the series of schematic female portraits distributed across the body of the vase. These are frontal bust figures with gathered hair, almond-shaped eyes, and pearl necklaces—attributes typical of Hellenistic iconography—that likely represent idealized deceased women or funerary nymphs. These figures, painted with a firm but somewhat naive style, possess a symbolic dimension: they connect the viewer to the world of the dead, in a play between memory, presence, and representation. This motif reflects the Canossian pottery trend of humanizing its pieces, marking a departure from the abstraction of Classical Greek ceramics. The use of color in this piece is also significant. Unlike Attic black-figure or red-figure pottery, Canossian pottery employs a freer and more striking polychromatic range, applied after firing, which suggests a more expressive than functional decorative intention. In this case, red and black are combined with the natural color of the terracotta, creating visual contrasts that accentuate both the geometric motifs and the figures. The vase is remarkably well-preserved, allowing us to appreciate both its original form and its rich decoration. Although it shows some pigment loss and wear, these are consistent with its age and do not detract from its overall iconographic interpretation. Typologically, this askos is related to other pieces of late Canossian pottery, characterized by its considerable size, funerary use, and figurative decoration. Parallels can be found in collections such as those of the National Archaeological Museum of Taranto or the J. Paul Getty Museum, where similar examples help to contextualize the evolution of this production between the 4th and 3rd centuries BC. Likewise, these pieces reflect the cultural syncretism of Magna Graecia, where Hellenic traditions merged with local Italic customs, giving rise to objects of great formal and symbolic originality. Acquired from a German private collection, G.B in the 80's. -The piece includes an authenticity certificate as well as the TL test. The Seller can prove that the lot was obtained legally. Important information. The seller guarantees that he is entitled to ship this lot. The seller will take care that any necessary permits will be arranged, this process can take between 2 and 4 weeks. IMPORTANT: Due to the new laws on the export of archaeological pieces, we have decided to NO LONGER sell outside the European territory for the following countries: SWITZERLAND & UNITED STATES of AMERICA. For other destinations out of European territory: all our items will be shipped after obtaining a definitive LICENSE EXPORTATION by the Ministry of Culture of Spain. We inform our clients that it may take between 4-8 weeks. According to Spanish legislation, items sent outside the European Union are subjected to export taxes. The taxes will be added to the invoice, at the buyer's expense. These export fees are fixed on the final auction price, and the tax rate is not applied directly to the total value of the item to be exported, but rather the different percentages by sections are applied to it: Up to 6,000 euros: 5%. / From 6.001 to 60.000 euros: 10 %. Please note that for far destination (Asia, middle east etc.. ), there will be an additional cost for the shipping.