This small vase would have contained perfume or oil for anointing the body. Animals often feature prominently on Corinthian vases of the 7th century BC, whose naturalistic decoration was inspired by art imported from the Near East.
Literature: J. Falconer and T. Mannack, Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum: Great Britain, Fascicule 19: Winchester College (Oxford, 2002), p. 13, plate 10.7-9; Winchester College Memorial Buildings: Department of Classical Art (Winchester, 1909), p. 13 (no. 8)
Provenance: From Argos, at Winchester College by 1909
Location: Treasury, Gallery 3