Archaeology & Antiquities
Red-Figure Eye Cup: Warriors (A), Musician and Youths (B)
CeramicsVessel
Details
- Author / creator
- Psiax (Greek, Attic, active c. 525–505 BCE)
- Object type
- Archaeology
- Date or period
- c. 520 BCE
- Dimensions summary
- Diameter of tondo: 6.4 cm; Overall: 11.2 × 33.6 cm; Diameter of rim: 26 cm
- Site or findspot
- Vulci, Italy (Greek import)
- Cultural period
- Ancient
- Place of origin
- Greek
- Acquisition method
- Purchase
- Credit line
- Purchased with the V&A Purchase Grant Fund, 1976
About this object
Typically, palmettes flank the eyes, with either a nose or figure at center. Here, the innovative painter Psiax, who worked in both black-figure and red-figure, moved the palmettes to the tondo and created three-figure compositions on each exterior side: two warriors converging on a fallen comrade (or enemy); and a youth playing a cithara for an audience of two. The experimental nature of early red-figure may explain the unusual spear and awkwardly twisted torso and lower leg of the central warrior.
Materials and technique
Ceramic
Signature and marks
Graffito on underside of foot: Ζωιιλος [ZOILOS, perhaps the name of an owner]
