A hetaira, or Greek woman of pleasure, is featured in the tondo of this Kylix. She is nude except for a cap (a sakkos) in her hair and disk-shaped earrings. In her right hand she holds a large olisbos (dildo), secured to her wrist by a strap added in red. With her left hand, she reaches towards its tip. The graceful movements of her body suggest that the young woman may be performing a dance to entertain symposiasts.

Published

LEIPEN N., et al., Glimpses of Excellence, A Selection of Greek Vases and Bronzes from the Elie Borowski Collection, Toronto, 1984, p. 13, no. 9.;

KILMER M.F., Greek Erotica on Attic Red-Figure Vases, Duckworth, 1993, pp 99 and 242, no. R180.;

DIERICHS A., Erotik in der Kunst Griechenlands, Mainz am Rhein, 1983, p. 103, fig. 186.;

Christie’s, New York, 13 June 2000, lot 73.;

From Myth to Life: Images of Women from the Classical World, Smith College Museum of Art, Northampton, Massachusetts, 12 March – 10 October 2004, p. 82-83, no. 32;

The Gilbert Collection: by Phoenix Ancient Art, New York, 2019, no. 123

Exhibited

The Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, 18 December 1984 – 30 June 1985;

From Myth to Life: Images of Women from the Classical World, Smith College Museum of Art, Northampton, Massachusetts, 12 March – 10 October 2004, p. 82-83, no. 32;

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas, 12 February -31 July, 2005;

Tampa Museum of Art, Florida, 18 September – 3 December 2005;

La Biennale, Grand Palais, Paris, 11-17 September 2019;

PAD London, Berkeley Square, London, 30 September 6 – October 2019