Collection Item

From:UC Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities

Name/TitleAmphora

About this objectAthenian Black-figure amphora of a Type B shape. This Attic black-figure amphora shows a scene unique to Greek vase painting. It depicts a comic chorus of five bearded men walking on stilts, thought to be a scene from the theatre. It is not known whom the chorus represents but giants or titans have been suggested.

On the front of the vase is a scene from mythology where the Lapiths, a Greek tribe from Thessaly, fight centaurs, who are part horse and part men. The Lapiths are thought to represent civilised man defeating barbarianism and bestiality.

Amphorae were commonly used in daily life as containers for dry or wet goods. They could also be used in the after life as a vessel for the ashes of the deceased.

A short selection of references for this work includes:

Green, J.R., Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum New Zealand Fascicule 1 (Oxford University Press, 1979) pl. 8
Green, J.R., Greek and Roman Treasures in Christchurch. A Selection from University of Canterbury’s Logie Collection. (Canterbury University Press, Christchurch, 2007)
Hart, M.L., The Art of Ancient Greek Theatre (J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, 2010)
Lawler, C.A., Three Thousand Years (Exhibition Catalogue, Sydney, 1970) no. 46 (ill.)
Trendall, A.D., Logie Collection no. 27, pll. 20-21 and frontispiece
Robert McDougall Art Gallery, Ancient Celebrations (Exhibition Catalgoue, Christchurch, 1985) no. 30 (ill.)
Robert McDougal Art Gallery, Mother City and Colony (University of Canterbury, Christchurch, 1995) 7-8, no. 4 (ill.)

For a full list of references and complete description, see:

Green, J.R., The Logie Collection: A Catalogue of the James Logie Memorial Collection of Classical Antiquities at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch (Canterbury University Press, Christchurch, 2009)

MakerAttributed to the Swing Painter

Maker RoleArtist

Date Madeca. 540-530 BC

PeriodArchaic

Place MadeGreece

Medium and MaterialsCeramic; Pottery

Style and IconographyAttic

TechniqueBlack-figure vase painting

TechniquePolychromy

TechniqueSlip trailing (relief line)

TechniqueThrowing (pottery technique)

MeasurementsHeight 41.4cm; Diameter 27.2cm

Subject and Association KeywordsArt and mythology

Subject and Association KeywordsDeath in art

Subject and Association KeywordsTheatre in art

Subject and Association KeywordsClothing and dress

Subject and Association KeywordsViolence in art

Subject and Association KeywordsAnimals, mythical

Named CollectionThe James Logie Memorial Collection, University of Canterbury, New Zealand

Credit LineDonated by M.K. Steven, 1957

Object TypeStorage Vessels

Object number41.57

Copyright LicenceAll rights reserved