Amphora; Canosa, Magna Grecia, 4th century BC.... Lot 37

Amphora; Canosa, Magna Grecia, 4th century BC. Ceramic. Measures: 76 x 30 cm. The amphora is an original typology of Greek pottery, characterized by its elongated and high shape, fusiform, with a narrow neck and two openwork handles on the sides of it, and usually ending in a point to place it sunk in the sandy soil or on an upright. It was used as the main container for transporting and storing foodstuffs. From 320 B.C. onwards. Athens no longer exported pottery, and only a few vessels were made and given as prizes to athletes in the Panathenaeans. Pottery from the Italic Peninsula then took the place of Athenian pottery in the Mediterranean market. The Italian pieces came from different centers, among them the city of Canosa, in northern Italy, often characterized by a rich polychrome ornamentation.