From THETIS cabinet
Black-glazed hydria, Archaic period, ca. 520–500 BCE.
The hydria, a water vessel with three handles—two horizontal for lifting and one vertical for pouring—was among the most characteristic shapes of Attic pottery. Usually decorated in the black-figure technique with heroic or mythological scenes, this example presents a more minimalist interpretation, focusing on the harmony of form and glaze rather than narrative imagery.
The surface is coated with a deep, lustrous black gloss, accented by a delicate purple-red ivy garland encircling the neck. This restrained decoration highlights the refined aesthetics of late Archaic Attic workshops, where mastery of controlled firing produced subtle variations of sheen and color.
Dimensions H : 40cm, max L: 35cm