Corinthian Terracotta Aryballos with a Lion Motif

Orientalizing Period, c. 725–600 BC, Corinth, Greece

A remarkable and highly unusual Corinthian black-figure pottery aryballos, wheel-made with a squat, globular body rising from a broad ring base, surmounted by a short cylindrical neck with an outward-folded rim and a single strap handle extending from shoulder to rim. The vessel features a small conical spout and is crafted from fine buff clay, coated with a light slip and adorned with painted and incised decoration.

The principal frieze depicts a striking scene of two lions facing one another, each shown in typical front pose with elongated tails, open jaws, and finely incised details. Between them, the field is richly embellished with abstract organic motifs, perhaps stylized lotus blossoms and palmettes, further enlivened with traces of fugitive red pigment. Radiating rays at the base of the neck add a dynamic visual rhythm to the composition.

Corinthian pottery of the Orientalizing Period is celebrated for its vivid figural decoration, heavily influenced by the city’s flourishing trade with the Levant, Egypt, and Assyria. Exotic animals, mythological creatures, and stylized plants became signature motifs of Corinthian workshops, reflecting the cultural and artistic exchanges of the 7th–6th centuries BC.

Aryballoi such as this were used to hold perfumed oils, prized in both athletic and domestic contexts, making them objects of personal luxury as well as artistic expression. The present example, with its unusual pairing of lions and its superb execution, exemplifies the refinement of the Orientalizing style and the technical brilliance of Corinthian ceramicists at the height of their innovation.

A rare and evocative survival, this piece offers both historical depth and aesthetic allure—an outstanding testament to the fusion of Greek craftsmanship and Eastern inspiration in early classical art.

Good condition. Museum-quality restorations. Surface wear consistent with age, featuring encrusted patina and rich earthen deposits throughout. Size approx. 7,6cm x 8,5cm x 7,8cm. 

Provenance: Swedish private collection. Acquired abroad and brought to Sweden in the 1960s