Lidded Krater with Bridal Scene

Place of OriginSicily, Italy

Date3rd century BCE

DimensionsH (with lid): 25 in. (63.5 cm); H (to rim): 14 26/32 in. (37.6 cm); Diam (with handles): 17 1/2 in. (44.4 cm); Diam (rim): 12 in. (30.5 cm); Diam (foot): 5 29/32 in. (15.0 cm); Diam (lid): 11 7/8 in. (30.2 cm)

MediumPolychrome painted, wheel-thrown Centuripe ware with applied decoration

ClassificationCeramics

Credit LinePurchased with funds from the Libbey Endowment, Gift of Edward Drummond Libbey

Object number

1972.56A-B

On View

Toledo Museum of Art (2445 Monroe Street), Gallery, 02, Classic

DescriptionLarge lidded terracotta krater with a tall foot and ornate strap handles. The vessel’s lid features a painted portrait of a woman, while the body displays a bridal scene in delicate pastel colors, including pink, blue, yellow, and green. Gilded details embellish the handles, acanthus leaves, and decorative borders.

Label TextThis krater, or mixing bowl, is painted in a style known as Centuripe ware, named after the Hellenistic town in Sicily around which most of the examples of this style were found. The scene painted on the side of this vessel shows gifts being received by a bride. She wears elaborate jewelry and is accompanied by two women holding a fan and a parasol. The head and shoulders of a woman painted on the lid may represent an idealized portrait of the bride or of Aphrodite, the goddess of love. The fragile pastel colors—pink, blue, yellow, and green—and gilded details were painted after the vase was fired and survive only because the vase was made as a tomb offering. The ancient Greeks often buried wedding regalia and jewelry with girls and young women who died before marriage.Published ReferencesWittmann, Otto, ed., "Treasures for Toledo," Toledo Museum of Art Museum News, vol. 19, nos. 2, 3, Toledo, 1976, p. 48, repr.

Boulter, Cedric G., and Kurt T. Luckner, Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum, Toledo Museum of Art, fasc. 2, U.S.A., fasc. 20, Mainz, 1984, pl. 120,1.

Comparative ReferencesSee also Richter, G.M.A. A Handbook of Greek Art, Greenwich, Conn., 1964, 4th ed., pp. 353-354, fig. 472.

cf. Arias, P.E. and M. Hirmer, Greek Vase Painting, New York, 1961, p. 387, p. 392, pl. LII.

cf. Robertson, Martin, Greek Painting, Geneva, 1959, pp. 172-175, pl. p. 173.

cf. Trendall, A.D. "A New Polychrome Vase from Centuripe," The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, vol. XIII, no. 5, Jan., 1955, pp. 161-166.

cf. Libertini, G., Centuripe, Catania, 1926.

cf. Libertini, G., "Nuove Ceramiche Dipinte Di Centuripe," Atti E Memorie Societa Magnà Grecià, 1932, pp. 187-212.

cf. Richter, G.M.A. Metropolitan Museum Studies, II, 2, 1930, pp. 187-205.

cf. Richter, G.M.A. Metropolitan Museum Studies, IV, I, 1932, pp. 44-45.

cf. Pace, B. "Ceramiche Ellenistiche Siceliote," Ausonia, VIII, 1913, pp. 27-34.

cf. Pace, B., Arte E Civiltà Della Sicilia Antica, II, 1938, pp. 171-178, pp. 478-482.

cf. Beazley, J.D., "Groups of Campanian Red-figure," Journal of Hellenistic Studies, 1943, pp. 104-108.