Beautiful White Ground Lekythos from the Tymbos Group or workshop. This Greek Attic lekythos has a round base, cylindrical body and tapering towards the foot. The tall narrow neck which broadens out into a thick wide rim and a strap handle, shoulder reserved with rays at the base of the neck. The body is decorated with brown figure of a man approaching a funerary stele, painted on a white background. White ground lekythoi were made almost solely for the cult of the dead, as their non-permanent white technique was appropriate for burial at the grave site. These funerary vessels would have most likely contained oil. Dates to approx 460 BC and is near perfect condition said for a reconstructed foot. These white-ground lekythoi are extremely rare and this fine example measure 9 inches in height.
Provenance: Private Belgian collection.
For reference see: Oakley, J. H. 2004. Picturing Death in Classical Athens: The Evidence of the White Lekythoi. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
