Oinochoe - Oenochoe - very nice and pretty - Ancient Greek, Magna Graecia, Apulia, 4th century BC Pottery with red figures 10,5 cm height Provenance: - Private colecction, Rennes, France, 1970’s. Acquired in Gerard Barré Antiquités, France. With old dealer label. Condition: Good, see photos. The oinochoe (plural: oinochoai) is a type of ancient Greek vessel used mainly for pouring wine. Its name comes from the Greek words “oinos” (wine) and “cheo” (to pour). It is characterized by a single handle, a rounded body, and a clover-shaped mouth, designed to facilitate the pouring of liquid. These jugs were common at symposia, social gatherings where wine was drunk and various topics were discussed. Oinochoai could be plain or decorated with mythological, everyday, or funerary scenes, depending on their use and the period in which they were made. During the 6th to 4th centuries BC, they were especially popular in black-figure and red-figure pottery. In addition to their practical function, they also had symbolic and artistic value, reflecting cultural, religious, and social aspects of the ancient Greek world. Today, they are key objects for understanding the life and art of Ancient Greece. In Magna Graecia, these vessels adopted local decorative styles, influenced by Attic pottery, but also developed characteristics of their own. Among the most notable are the red-figured skyphoi, a technique in which the figures were reserved in the natural colour of the clay while the background was painted black. The subjects depicted include mythological scenes, rituals, Dionysian motifs and aspects of everyday life. Important workshops emerged in regions such as Apulia, Lucania and Campania, where craftsmen fused Hellenistic traditions with indigenous elements. These vessels had not only a utilitarian function, but also a symbolic and funerary one, as they were often deposited as offerings in tombs. The Magna Graecia skyphos is thus a testimony to an intense cultural exchange, reflecting the syncretism between Greek tradition and Italic influences in the colonial context.