Ca. 460-450 BC. A ceramic oinochoe in the form of a female head with dark brown hair swept back over the ear. Her elegant arched brow and large eyes are carefully picked out in a black pigment; her prominent nose sits above full, pursed lips and a strong chin. The vessel is equipped with a high, ear-shaped handle and trefoil rim. Oinochoai were an ancient Greek type of jug made from precious metal, bronze, or clay used to dispense wine during a symposium. It is often depicted in conjunction with a phiale during the pouring of libations for the gods at an altar. For a similar example, see The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Accession Number: 01.8.7.Size: L:220mm / W:90mm ; 185gProvenance: Property of a Central London Gallery, acquired by a private British collector, formerly in Orange County, California, USA collection; ex-property of a New York Gallery; ex-Rhode Island collection, ex Sotheby’s, New York, USA, December 10, 2009, lot #82