A miniature Apulian red figure pottery hydria (water carrier) of the highest quality with a very beautiful swan on one side of the body of the vessel, a palmette design on the other, with small floral additions as background fillers.
 
Ancient Greek colonies of Apulian South Italy: 4th cent. BC.
 
In excellent condition. Examined and found to be genuine by Dr. T. Knosala (archaeologist, University of Cologne where he wrote; The grave representation of the knightly and senatorial population group in Lazio).
 
Height 10.5 cms (4.13 ins)
 
Provenence: Swiss priv. coll. P. Bonsera, Basel-Landschaft. Formerly in German priv. coll. NorthRine Westphalia, since the 1990's.
 
Such small-scale vases were made for use in a funerary context, perhaps symbolically or filled with a small offering. compare with Metropolitan Museum New York item 254395.