About this artwork
The towering form and ornate handles of this vase are unique to workshops in Southern Italy. The abundance of delicate white and yellow accents, which were added after the firing of the main scenes, is also characteristic of this region. Vessels like this were designed to hold water for ritual bathing before marriage, but they could also be placed at the tombs of young women who did not live to a marriageable age.
This example likely served such a purpose, as it depicts a woman within a naiskos, a temple-like structure that would mark the gravesite of a wealthy family. On its body, the bride (the central figure seated on a folding stool) is surrounded by female friends and family members. The objects they hold, such as hand mirrors, jewelry, and
perfume flasks, represent the ritual of beautifying and preparing the bride for her wedding day—a practice still
carried out today.
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Status
- On View, Gallery 151
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Department
- Arts of the Ancient Mediterranean and Byzantium
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Culture
- Ancient Greek
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Title
- Loutrophoros (Container for Bath Water)
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Place
- Apulia (Object found in)
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Date
- 350 BCE–340 BCE
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Medium
- terracotta, red-figure
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Dimensions
- 88 × 37.5 × 26 cm (34 3/4 × 14 3/4 × 10 1/4 in.)
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Credit Line
- Katherine K. Adler Memorial Fund
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Reference Number
- 1984.9
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IIIF Manifest
- https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/102080/manifest.json
Extended information about this artwork
Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.
