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Main panel: assistant on right

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Three-dimensional approximation of the vase

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Main panel: forge

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Main panel: man at forge

Collection: London, British Museum
Summary: Body: Foundry scene; two men at a forge.
Ware: Attic Black Figure
Painter: Attributed to Keyside Class
Context: From Vulci
Date: ca. 510 BC - ca. 500 BC
Dimensions:

H. 0.257 m.
Primary Citation: ABV, 426, 9; Beazley Addenda 2, 110, 426.9
Shape: Oinochoe
Beazley Number: 303253
Period: Archaic

Condition:

Broken and repaired; some pieces missing.

Decoration Description:

Body: A foundry scene is depicted. In the center is a tall, tubular-shaped forge. On the left a bearded man crouches. He has taken a piece of heated metal from the forge with pliers, and holds it on the anvil in front of him. With his left hand he gestures to his assistant, who is standing on the other side of the forge. The assistant stands facing left, leaning on a large hammer with his right hand. In the background, various other tools hang on the wall; a pair of pliers, a hammer, and the handle of another tool.

Also in the background are the retrograde inscriptions [epig-rough]*O . . . *M*U*S *K*A[*L]*O*S . . .*D*O*K*E*I *N*A*I ("Ho . . .mus is beautiful, truly!"), and also three meaningless inscriptions.

It has been suggested that the bearded master is actually Hephaistos (White, 37), but there is nothing about him to suggest divinity, and daily life scenes like this were common on vases of the period; see for example Boston 99.527, depicting a butcher in his shop.

Shape Description:

Trefoil mouth oinochoe

Inscriptions:

In the background are the retrograde inscriptions [epig-rough]*O . . . *M*U*S *K*A[*L]*O*S . . .*D*O*K*E*I *N*A*I ("Ho . . .mus is beautiful, truly!"), and also three meaningless inscriptions.

Sources Used:

Boardman 1974, fig. 285; K.D. White Greek and Roman Technology (London, 1984) 37, fig. 28; G. Zimmer Antike Werkstattbilder (Berlin, 1982) 20, fig. 11

Other Bibliography:

P. Zancani Montuoro " La scure. Martello da S. Sosti" AttiMGrecia N.S. 9-10 (1968-69) 44, pl. 12a; A. Burford Künstler und Handwerker in Griechenland und Rom (Mainz, 1985) pl. 29; J.Z. Ziomecki Les Répresentations d'Artisans sur les Vases Attique (Wrocaw, 1975) 57, fig. 19