Description
Although first developed in Athens, red-figure fish plates became especially popular in South Italy and Sicily in the 300s BC. All feature a short foot and a small central depression, but those produced in the workshop of Asteas and Python, like this one, are the largest and most ornate. Archaeologists have closely studied the fish and other sea creatures represented, identifying many of them with species still found (and eaten) in the Mediterranean; included here are octopi, mullet, bream, and various shellfish.
Provenance
Poutrales family, Portugal (arrived Portugal from Germany and Austria late 19th Century); Thomas Howard-Sneyd, Ltd., London, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art (?-1985); The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (1985-)
Accession Number
1985.50
Medium
ceramic
Dimensions
Diameter: 38.3 cm (15 1/16 in.); Overall: 7.9 cm (3 1/8 in.); Diameter of foot: 16 cm (6 5/16 in.)
Classification
Ceramic
Credit Line
Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund