Vase Catalog Number: London D 6

Decoration:

Interior: In the center is an apple tree, its branches extending to the top of the tondo and spreading rather lower of the left than on the right. On the right a girl stands on tiptoe, stretching to reach up with her right hand to pluck an apple from the highest branch and holding her skirt aside with her left. She wears a long, undergirt chiton with apoptygma (overfold) and her hair is confined with a sphendone. Above her is her name, of which only three letters remain, ...LDO. The figure on the left is completely lost, except perhaps for the outline of the back. Judging from the space, it must have been either seated or shorter than the other. Above the second figure runs the name MELISI. Below the design between the border and the lip, is inscribed [SOT]ADES EPOISEN, "(Sot)ades made (me)." The tondo is defined with a broad yellow band within a black band.

The inner surface is covered with a white slip, on which the design is drawn in brown outline. The fruit is painted in added white so thick as to look like relief. Coral red used.

Inscriptions:

Above the woman is her name, of which only three letters remain, ...]LDO. Above the second figure runs the name MELISI. Below the design between the border and the lip, is inscribed [SOT]ADES EPOISEN, "(Sot)ades made (me)".

Collection History:

Found in a grave in Athens together with cup London D 5, phialai London D 8 and Boston 98.886, two mastoi London D 9 and London D 10, and stemless cups London D 7, Brussels A 891 and Brussels A 890. Von Branteghem Collection, no. 164

Condition:

Fragmentary. The left side of the design is partly broken away.

Shape Description:

Of delicate make, with Merrythought handles

Sources Used:

Smith 1896, 391-392; Murray & Smith 1896, pl. 17; Pfuhl 1923, pl. 200, no.527; Williams 1985, 36-37, fig. 42; Robertson 1992, 185-90

Other Bibliography:

H. Hoffmann, "Aletheia: the iconography of death/rebirth in three cups by the Sotades Painter," Res 17-18 (1989) 67-88; Frîhner von Branteghem Collection, no. 164, pl. 39

(Susan H. Allen)