Lot 931

Description

Sienna-brown impasto ceramic. Two conical beakers with small base and slightly curved wall. The border at the top flat, with only one beaker having a minimally flared rim lip. Both wheel-thrown vessels joined together in the leather-hard state by a U-shaped clay disc, above which a column depicts in stylised form the hindquarters of two centaurs positioned back to back. The centaurs with an oval cross-section, horizontally running hindquarter that transitions at the front into two V-shaped forked legs. The legs standing on two broad struts, each bearing an outward-facing knob at the point of attachment to the vessel borders. The chests and necks of the centaurs formed as vertical plates – flat figure-like – above the forelegs. Upon these, the heads of the centaurs with nose, beard, eyes and ears. Nose, ears and beard modelled in relief. The eyes incised. Between the upper bodies of the centaurs, two upward-curved bows ending on the outside at the neck of the centaurs and converging in the centre into a column rising from the back-to-back hindquarters. Possibly to be interpreted as the tails of the centaurs, particularly with regard to the raised tails of the horses on the beakers. The surface of the beakers and the centaurs decorated with incised ornament. On the outer surface of the beakers a pictorial field delimited at the top and at the rear sides by double lines with a wavy line between them. This border continued on the inside at the lower border. Within the pictorial field thus framed on the exterior, two stylised horses with zebra-like striped bodies. The legs of the horses cross in the centre of the image and also cross the framing at the border of the scene. Above the horses, a band of interlocking but unconnected, recumbent S-ornaments resembling a running dog but not connected to form undulating volutes. The forelegs and chest area of the centaurs striped, like the horses on the beakers. Extending from the muzzle, a band drawn back with semicircular arches along the lower border, and further incised lines running from the back of the head to the muzzle, appearing to depict a head bridle. The depiction gives the impression of harnessed and bridled centaurs. The entire vessel covered with incrustations. The ears, once attached in the leather-hard state, have spalled off on one centaur; on the other they are present, though one is chipped. Otherwise excellent condition without breaks. Height of the beakers 10.8 cm and 11.2 cm, diameter 15.2 cm each. Overall height 22 cm. CULTURAL ASSET!

Provenance: A private collection from Upper Austria (estate), acquired by the father in the 1980s on the art market in Austria and southern Germany.

Condition: I - II Questions about the lot?