Attic White-Ground Lekythos with Lyre Scene 30 cm

This replica is modeled after a Classical Attic white-ground lekythos, a slender oil flask used in ancient Greek funerary rituals. The original vessel, dated ca. 420–400 BCE and attributed to the Woman Painter, is preserved in the Princeton University Art Museum. Lekythoi held perfumed oil used in burial ceremonies, including anointing the deceased and leaving offerings at graves. Scenes on these vessels often reflect themes of remembrance and mourning. On the original vase, a lyre player appears beside figures gathered at a grave monument, evoking music and ritual associated with commemoration of the dead. The vessel is made from painted ceramic using the white-ground technique, in which a pale slip provides a surface for delicate line drawing and added color. Decorative bands such as meander patterns and palmettes frame the scene, typical of Attic pottery of the late Classical period. Replicas like this one reproduce the elegant proportions and imagery of these funerary vessels, offering a tangible connection to the artistic traditions of Classical Athens.