Alabastron (perfume bottle) with an African warrior
Culture: Greek
Date: ca. 500 B.C.
Place made:Greece, Europe
Dimensions:
5 3/4 x 1 15/16 in. (14.6 x 5 cm)
Credit Line: Gift of Gilbert M. Denman, Jr.
Object number: 86.134.174
Provenance: Sotheby's, London, May 20, 1985, lot 380; sold, Sotheby's, London, July 17-18, 1985, lot 312 to Gilbert M. Denman, Jr. (1921-2004), San Antonio; Gilbert M. Denman, Jr., by gift to San Antonio Museum of Art, 1986
Label Text
In the white-ground technique the surface of the vase was covered with a white slip (a refined form of the clay), and figures were painted on this background. Like Six’s technique, white-ground was the product of experimentation by Athenian vase-painters in the late 6th century B.C. White-ground, however, was much more popular and continued to be used throughout the 5th century. The figure on this vase is an African warrior who holds a bow and a battle axe. (Jessica Powers 2008)
On view
In Collection(s)
The San Antonio Museum of Art is in the process of digitizing its permanent collection. This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect SAMA's complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of such records is ongoing.
This resource has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor.
