ostracon ancient art
catalogue

Apulian Guttus with a Youth Riding on a Hippocamp, 350-300 BC

The stamped medallion showing a young man riding on a hippocamp – a prancing horse with a coil up spiny fish tail.

The youth is wearing a short tunic and holding a scabbard or a torch.

The graceful depiction reminds of Tarentine coins with the young Taras riding on a dolphin. It is also related to depictions of the Nereids carrying the arms of Achilles.

For a guttus with a Nereid on a hippocamp cf. fig. 149 and pp. 285-286 in: M.-O. Jentel. Les Gutti et les Askoi à Reliefs Étrusques et Apuliens. Leiden 1976.

Handle reattached, otherwise fine condition. Minor wear and cracks in places.

H. 9.5 cm (3.7 in), D. 8.5 cm (3.3 in)

Swiss art market

980 USD