6th Century B.C. Greek Amphora -not a reproduction Start Price USD 11,000.00 Current Price USD 11,000.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Monday, July 21, 2008 End Time Monday, July 28, 2008 Location Riverview, Michigan See more about '6th Century B.C. Greek Amphora -not a reproduction' Description You may be interested in our other listings on eBay. 6th Century B.C. Greek Amphora -not a reproduction  We purchased this vase about 10 years ago from Hart Galleries in Texas - a very reputable fine art auction gallery. Along with the vase, came a description paper that I will type out EXACTLY as it is written. There are a few words that are spelled incorrectly but I believe this is due to translation discrepancies.   Circa 6th-Cent. B.C :black figures of warriors, two on each side, in different aspects of fight with floral decoration, painted on a light red background. It was bought in south Italy, the ancient Magna Grecia around the half of XIX cent. by the owner's great grandfather, who lived in Florence Italy. This magnificent Greek Amphora was later magistrally restored by a Greek artisan at that time studying in Florence, who was son to the then curator of an Archaeological Museum in Kypros, details of whom are not known to the owner. As it is well known, that kind of decoration was at first used by the primitive Greek artists to ornate terracotta pottery; but that technik (their spelling), the incision on black figures painted on red ground, did not allow scope for shading. Therefore, when the skill of those artists matured and they discovered how to differentiate between shallow and deep folds on drapery and mark muscles and veins, an effect which was not possible to obtain by scratching with a sharp point on an evenly coloured surface, the ancient style was almost totally replaced in the fifth century B.C., in less than thirty years, by reversing the colours of decorations into painted red on a black ground. Such a trend became so popular that those new stile artifacts became more and more requested, not only for domestic purpose, but for pure ornament of houses and gardens, and their export reached most of the Mediterranean countries. Therefore, the ancient style was pretty soon abandoned and its artifacts have now become a rarity. Riverting to our Amphora, notwithstanding its very ancient make, and the decisively primitiveness of its ornaments, we must acknowledge that such decorations bear an impressing armonious shape of a very fine design, while its state of conservation is really astonishing; we can well say that it is as beautiful today as when it left the hands of its maker. For the best possible way for you to admire every aspect of this amphora, I have taken pictures at every interval of turning the vase clockwise.     The vase measures 12 1/4" high by 7 1/2" wide. This is the description that came with our purchase so many years ago.   If you would like to see a particular area close up, please send me an email and I'll take more pictures and send them right over.   Shipping will be through DHL for the most reliable service if delivered within the United States.  I don't charge a handling fee of any kind, so for an exact rate, please send over your zip code.   I will be happy to ship outside the U.S. Please send over your location for a shipping rate quote. Thank you for taking the time to look at my auction.  It's not very often a piece this unique reaches the auction block. My Policies: I have never charged a handling fee of any kind and certainly don't plan on starting now!  The shipping charges are exact.  As far as insurance goes, to be on the safe side, I would encourage  you to insure your "latest treasure" simply because I can not be responsible for lost items.  Insurance is your choice and at your cost.  Let me know if you would like the postal insurance and I'll add it into the total. Until my accountant tells me differently, I only charge sales tax within Michigan.   Thanks for stopping by! Created by eBay Blackthorne ver. 3.1.121.0 Place a Bid!