Czére Andrea szerk.: A Szépművészeti Múzeum közleményei (Budapest, 2007)

ANDRÁS MÁRTON AND GYÖRGY NEMES: Corinthian White-Ground Lekythoi

In conclusion, we suggest the following dates for each of Palmer's groups: group i 460/450430 BC; group ii 450-420 BC; and group iii 425-400/375 BC. SI 1APE AND DECORATION Since the publication of the North Cemetery, the number of known Corinthian white-ground lekythoi has almost doubled. It is thus worthwhile to give a brief summary of what can be known about the shape and decoration of these vases. H. Palmer established three main groups (i-iii) based on the shapes of the vases.

47 The shapes of 165 Corinthian-made white-ground lekythoi can be securely defined.

48 Two are chimney lekythoi;

49 while 32 lekythoi belong to group i; 39 to group ii; and 92 vases to group iii.

50 PALMER'S GROUP I

51 The vases belonging to this group follow the Attic Beldam shape. As defined by H. Palmer, this group is characterised by a shallow mouth, flat shoulder, tapering body, and low foot with concave edge. The mouth, both sides of the handle and the lower cylinder are covered with black glaze, and in many cases a horizontal black line can be found on the side of the foot. The surfaces left without the black glaze (neck, shoulders, foot) are often covered with a pinkish slip.

52 On the shoulder, the most common decoration is a double or single row of rays in black/' It is generally true of Corinthian vases that this ray motif is thicker and less arched than the more finely drawn Attic versions. Red palmettes can also appear on the shoulder/

4 The body can be decorated with various ornamental motifs: an upright red palmette, or a crosshatched lozenge-shaped design between interspersed dots and lines that covers the whole surface of the body with ivy pattern to the right or to the left.

55 Less frequently, the body is decorated with a laurel wreath between interspersed black dots and lines/

6 In one version of this decoration, the background is black and the laurel leaves are left in outline."'

7 On one lekythos, a polychrome decoration made up of palmette and tendril designs can be seen on the body.

58 Some vases of this group show the remains of unidentifiable, perhaps figurai, polychrome decoration on the body.

59 These various ornamental decorations, excluding the red upright palmettes, are favourite motifs of the Beldam Painter and the potters of his workshop.

60 The large upright red palmette motif painted onto the body of white lekythoi is typically Corinthian. PALMER'S GROUP II

61 'This group is characterised by a deep trumpet mouth with a rim that curves sharply outward and a baggy convex body. The low disk foot cannot be regarded as a group characteristic. It is