Large Greek Apulian Krater

The “red figure” technique emerged in Corinth around 530 B.C. and was adopted in Athens, where it achieved ample development, displacing “black figure” decoration.
In the case of the red figures, the vessel was covered with a black glaze, except for the areas of the silhouettes and other forms. In this way, the images take on the color of the ceramic piece, and details are added through drawn lines. It may well have been the natural appearance that this technique provided that guaranteed its success, where a large variety of figures were represented not only in silhouette, but also in foreshortened figures.
Our krater, a special vessel used for wine and water, presents a painting whose central theme is constituted by the naiskos, edicola or small temple made of two columns that support a triangular frontispiece in which a young warrior holding a lance is seen along with his auxiliary, who has a sheathed sword and a shield; the soldier’s Phrygian helmet with feathers is found on the ground and his armor hangs from the ceiling. The naiskos is flanked by young seated figures and standing maenads that hold a flask, a shield, a mirror and a crown. On the back side of the vessel, similar figures appear flanking a stele that is crossed by a black and white band, a band of meanders that alternate with square crosses with points, encircling the body of the vessel below these scenes. At the level of the handles there are two palm fronds with tongues on the shoulder, feminine heads flanked by flowers and tendrils on the neck and feminine masks with scrollwork on each side of the handles.