Tomb lekythos

Summary

The lekyhtos is made of white, fine-grained marble. The neck is broken and the foot is new in limestone.The left side is covered in a thick crust of calcite, outside the relief the surface shows abundant traces of the toothed chisel used decoratively. On the shoulder the remains of the original painted decoration is still visible to the naked eye. On the areas originally painted the pigments have protected the marble surface leaving it bleached compared to the exposed, weathered surface. The man standing in the right side of the relief is leaning on a stick that was once painted on.

In June, 1993 the lekythos was thoroughly cleaned.

Description of object

On a very pronounced base line the figures are rendered in relief. The top of the relief frame is clearly seen. On a high-backed chair a woman clad in a chiton and himation is shaking the hand of a standing elderly man holding a large mantle around himself. Behind her is another old man leaning forward maybe on his stick, enveloped in a mantle as a silent spectator to the leave-taking of the woman from the standing man.

Choice of methods

Visual examination

• Macroscopic

Bibliography

F. Poulsen (1951), Catalogue of Ancient Sculpture in the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen, cat. no. 222a.

M. Moltesen (1995), Catalogue. Greece in the Classical Period. Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen, cat. no. 59.