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Source Description
In its basic shape and decorative scheme—three figures before a stepped tomb marker—this lekythos resembles hundreds of funerary vessels made in Athens during the fifth century (400s) BC. But unusual features of the painted decoration, including the multicolored palmettes on the shoulder, and the shoes worn by the youth, suggest a modern intervention. Zinc found in analysis of the white ground is also likely modern, although the vessel itself may be ancient.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
109292
label
White-Ground Lekythos (Oil Vessel): Mourners at Tomb
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
109292
contentType
object
title
White-Ground Lekythos (Oil Vessel): Mourners at Tomb
description
In its basic shape and decorative scheme—three figures before a stepped tomb marker—this lekythos resembles hundreds of funerary vessels made in Athens during the fifth century (400s) BC. But unusual features of the painted decoration, including the multicolored palmettes on the shoulder, and the shoes worn by the youth, suggest a modern intervention. Zinc found in analysis of the white ground is also likely modern, although the vessel itself may be ancient.
date
c. 400s BCE, with modern painting
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q80001608
genreSpecific
Ceramic
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Overall: 39.4 cm (15 1/2 in.)
cul
Greek, Attic
accession
1927.434
Source extras
tec
ceramic
tombstone
White-Ground Lekythos (Oil Vessel): Mourners at Tomb, c. 400s BCE, with modern painting. Greek, Attic. Ceramic; overall: 39.4 cm (15 1/2 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund, 1927.434
collection
GR - Greek
didYouKnow
Both stylistic and technical studies suggest that this vase is not wholly ancient.
citations
citation
R. H. "Orestes Sarcophagus and Greek Accessions." <em>The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art</em> 15, no. 4 (1928).
page_number
Illustrated p. 86, mentioned p. 91.
creditline
Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
updatedAt
2026-05-29 05:50:33.235000
sourceId
109292
dept
Greek and Roman Art
coll
GR - Greek
med
ceramic
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
02053c92ae713794