Corinthian Terracotta Aryballos with Quatrefoil Motif

Late Corinthian Period, c. 575–550 BC, Greece

A superb wheel-thrown terracotta aryballos, finely crafted in a squat form with a rounded base, globular body, slender neck, and collared rim, joined by a single strap handle from rim to shoulder. Vessels of this type were used in daily life to hold perfumed oil or ointment, often carried by athletes and aristocrats alike.

The decoration features a quatrefoil motif framed by stylized leaves, executed in dark red slip with traces of added red pigment, preserved primarily on one side of the body. Additional bands of pigment adorn the rim and lip, lending balance to the overall composition. The quatrefoil, a decorative scheme of Near Eastern (Assyrian) inspiration, was widely adopted into Corinthian pottery and became a hallmark of the period’s cross-cultural artistic vocabulary.

Though worn with age, this aryballos retains its elegance and historical resonance, standing as a testament to the sophistication of Late Corinthian ceramic design. Compact yet full of presence, it offers both aesthetic charm and cultural depth, making it a distinguished addition to any collection of Greek antiquities.

Good condition. Surface wear commensurate with age, with a few chips to the rim and encrusted patina and rich earthen deposits throughout. Size approx. 6,7cm x 6,5cm x 6,5cm. 

Provenance: Swedish private collection. Acquired abroad and brought to Sweden in the 1960s and 1970s.

For a similar examples see: 

Aryballos, National Museums Liverpool, World Museum, Accession Number: 1981.1112.14 (https://www.liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/artifact/aryballos-27)

Aryballos, The Michael C. Carlos Museum, Accession Number: 2018.010.476 (https://collections.carlos.emory.edu/objects/37509/aryballos)

Aryballos ; ca. 575-550 BC; 33.55, Teece Museum of Classical Antiquities at the University of Canterbury, Accession Number: 33.55 (https://ehive.com/collections/4835/objects/995523/aryballos)