Magna Graecia, South Italy, Apulian, ca. 350 BCE. A ceramic fish plate of a classic pinax or pinakion (meaning tablet for its shape) form with three fish, a ray, a shrimp, and a seashell painted via the red-figure technique with added fugitive white and yellow details, the sea creatures swimming around a central garum (fish sauce) recess with rays and a surrounding wave pattern, the perimeter of the downturned rim adorned with a lovely band of laurel leaves, the dimpled disk form elevated on a raised pedestal. Size: 8.625" in diameter x 2.125" H (21.9 cm x 5.4 cm)

Fish plates were initially produced in Athens during the late fifth century BCE characterized by fish with bellies oriented towards the outside rim of the plate. While in Athens the palette was limited to a red clay fabric and black gloss slip with only rare uses of white overpainting, later examples from Greek settlers in Southern Italy were more colorful with added white and yellow pigments. The South Italian fish plates also departed from Attic examples in that they were characterized by decoration in which the fish's bellies were oriented inwards towards the sauce cup at the center of the plate, as we see in this example, though one fish is actually positioned directly on its belly.

Provenance: private Carlton collection, Los Angeles, California USA

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#122077

Losses to the foot and chips to the rim. A few scuffs and nicks to the upper surface of the plate with most nicks to the area surrounding the sea creatures. Nice iridescence to black finish on underside.