Alabastron (perfume bottle) with an African warrior
Date: ca. 500 B.C.
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
Published References
Sotheby's London, 20 May 1985, lot 380
Sotheby's London, 17-8 July 1985, lot 312
H.A. Shapiro, C.A. Picón, and G.D. Scott, III, eds., “Greek Vases in the San Antonio Museum of Art” (San Antonio, 1995) pp. 130-1, no. 65
Label TextIn 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)
This resource has been made possible in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities: Exploring the Human Endeavor.
