Corinthian Terracotta Globular aribale with motifs of animals and mythological creatures, from Fievet Collection - 9.5 cm
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Current bid
€ 2,000
Reserve price not met
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Selected by Ruth Garrido Vila
Directed the Ifergan Collection Museum, specialising in Phoenician and Mediterranean archaeology.
Estimate € 2,700 - € 3,300
 | €2,000 | |
|---|---|---|
| €1,500 | |
| €1,400 | |
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A 9.5 cm globular Corinthian terracotta aryballos from the 6th century BC, decorated with animal and mythological motifs, from the Fievet Collection.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Exceptional globular Corinthian terracotta aryballos with a richly decorated frieze featuring animal and mythological motifs (6th century B.C.)
Culture: Ancient Greece / Corinthian Art (Archaic Period), 6th century B.C. (c. 600–550 B.C.)
Material: Light-colored terracotta with black-figure technique, pigments, and incisions made with a punch
Dimensions: Height: 9.5 cm
Provenance: Former Fievet Collection. Acquired at a French auction house, 2026.
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DESCRIPTION AND CONTEXT
A Greek globular aryballos from the Archaic period, originating from the renowned workshops of Corinth.
This type of vessel was used in classical antiquity by athletes in the gymnasium to store perfumed oils and ointments, and it also served as a valuable funerary offering or votive gift. It stands out for its refined, Orientalizing decoration in the black-figure technique with meticulous incisions made with a punch:
• Mouth and neck: Wide, disc-shaped rim designed for dispensing balm, decorated on its upper surface with a concentric frieze of incised fish. Short neck with a crown of radiating tongues at the shoulder and a vertical ribbon handle.
• Body (Belly): Organized into two overlapping decorative friezes separated by bands of dark varnish. It features a varied repertoire of fauna, including a striding ram, a seated winged sphinx, a watchful feline/panther, birds/mermaids, and other processional quadrupeds, all integrated into a dense field of star-shaped rosettes (horror vacui).
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CONDITION: Excellent / Very Good. The piece is complete and intact, with no fractures, cracks, or modern restorations. The incised lines and black varnish remain very sharp, with a soft natural patina and slight surface earthy deposits typical of its age.
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PARALLELS AND REFERENCES
• Similar pieces in museums: Examples comparable in style and featuring a varied animal frieze are held in the collections of the Musée du Louvre (Paris), the J. Paul Getty Museum (Malibu), and the British Museum (London).
• Reference Bibliography: H. Payne, *Necrocorinthia* (Oxford, 1931); D. A. Amyx, *Corinthian Vase-Painting of the Archaic Period* (California, 1988).
Statement seen by Catawiki. The seller guarantees that he is entitled to ship this lot. The seller will take care that any necessary permits will be arranged. The seller will inform the buyer about this if this takes more than a few days.
For buyers outside and inside the European Union (EU) a Spanish export license is required. This will take several weeks to arrange.
Due to Switzerland customs regulations, this lot cannot be sold to customers residing in Switzerland
Seller's Story
Ifergan Gallery – Ancient Art is an antique art gallery located in Malaga, with more than 10 years of experience specializing in ancient art and archaeology. The pieces we offer come from the Ifergan Collection Museum, which guarantees their historical value and quality. Our goal is to bring authentic archaeological pieces to both collectors and those who wish to start collecting, offering original works for different budgets and always with the maximum guarantees. All our pieces have been legally acquired and are shipped with a certificate of authenticity and export permit issued by the Spanish Ministry of Culture, with fast and secure shipping via DHL Express.
Exceptional globular Corinthian terracotta aryballos with a richly decorated frieze featuring animal and mythological motifs (6th century B.C.)
Culture: Ancient Greece / Corinthian Art (Archaic Period), 6th century B.C. (c. 600–550 B.C.)
Material: Light-colored terracotta with black-figure technique, pigments, and incisions made with a punch
Dimensions: Height: 9.5 cm
Provenance: Former Fievet Collection. Acquired at a French auction house, 2026.
________________________________________
DESCRIPTION AND CONTEXT
A Greek globular aryballos from the Archaic period, originating from the renowned workshops of Corinth.
This type of vessel was used in classical antiquity by athletes in the gymnasium to store perfumed oils and ointments, and it also served as a valuable funerary offering or votive gift. It stands out for its refined, Orientalizing decoration in the black-figure technique with meticulous incisions made with a punch:
• Mouth and neck: Wide, disc-shaped rim designed for dispensing balm, decorated on its upper surface with a concentric frieze of incised fish. Short neck with a crown of radiating tongues at the shoulder and a vertical ribbon handle.
• Body (Belly): Organized into two overlapping decorative friezes separated by bands of dark varnish. It features a varied repertoire of fauna, including a striding ram, a seated winged sphinx, a watchful feline/panther, birds/mermaids, and other processional quadrupeds, all integrated into a dense field of star-shaped rosettes (horror vacui).
________________________________________
CONDITION: Excellent / Very Good. The piece is complete and intact, with no fractures, cracks, or modern restorations. The incised lines and black varnish remain very sharp, with a soft natural patina and slight surface earthy deposits typical of its age.
________________________________________
PARALLELS AND REFERENCES
• Similar pieces in museums: Examples comparable in style and featuring a varied animal frieze are held in the collections of the Musée du Louvre (Paris), the J. Paul Getty Museum (Malibu), and the British Museum (London).
• Reference Bibliography: H. Payne, *Necrocorinthia* (Oxford, 1931); D. A. Amyx, *Corinthian Vase-Painting of the Archaic Period* (California, 1988).
Statement seen by Catawiki. The seller guarantees that he is entitled to ship this lot. The seller will take care that any necessary permits will be arranged. The seller will inform the buyer about this if this takes more than a few days.
For buyers outside and inside the European Union (EU) a Spanish export license is required. This will take several weeks to arrange.
Due to Switzerland customs regulations, this lot cannot be sold to customers residing in Switzerland
Seller's Story
Ifergan Gallery – Ancient Art is an antique art gallery located in Malaga, with more than 10 years of experience specializing in ancient art and archaeology. The pieces we offer come from the Ifergan Collection Museum, which guarantees their historical value and quality. Our goal is to bring authentic archaeological pieces to both collectors and those who wish to start collecting, offering original works for different budgets and always with the maximum guarantees. All our pieces have been legally acquired and are shipped with a certificate of authenticity and export permit issued by the Spanish Ministry of Culture, with fast and secure shipping via DHL Express.
Details
Culture
Corinthian
Century/timeframe
6th century b.C.
Name of object
Globular aribale with motifs of animals and mythological creatures, from Fievet Collection
Acquired from
Auction house
Year acquired
2026
Material
Terracotta
Country acquired from
France
Condition
Excellent
Previous owner acquired from
Private collection
Height
9.5 cm
Previous owner - year acquired
2000
Width
9.5 cm
Previous owner - country acquired from
France
I verify that I have obtained this object legally and that I am allowed to sell it
Yes
Authenticity
Original/official
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