Gnathian ware was made in the Greek colonies of southern Italy from the second quarter of the 4^th century BC until the early 3^rd century BC. It is named after the city of Gnathia (modern Egnazia) in Apulia, but was manufactured over a wide area. The style is distinguished by brightly coloured pigments on a dark background. Gnathian pottery is occasionally painted with figural scenes, but usually the decoration consists of decorative motifs. Unlike the red-figure pottery of Southern Italy, which seems to have been produced almost exclusively for the local market, Gnathian ware was exported widely in large quantities. It influenced local pottery styles elsewhere in the Mediterranean, for example the West Slope ware of 4^th-3^rd century Athens.

 

Literature: J. Falconer and T. Mannack, Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum: Great Britain, Fascicule 19: Winchester College (Oxford, 2002), p. 17, plate 13.8; Winchester College Memorial Buildings: Department of Classical Art (Winchester, 1909), p. 24 (no. 98)

Provenance: Charles Townley (1735-1805), at Winchester College by 1909

Location: Not on display