Lovely Etruscan Heron Class plate with decoration of really elegant herons.

This plate belongs to a large group called the Heron Class because its motif  was the Heron. The precise function of these plates is unknown, but they appear frequently in tombs at Cerveteri (ancient Caere) and ultimately may derive, in both shape and decoration, from eighth century B.C. Phoenician prototypes.

The Heron Class of Etruscan pottery probably represents the output of one or more workshops located in southern Etruria. The potters of the Heron Class produced five shapes--plates, kraters, oinochoai, amphorae, and stamnoid ollas--and decorated these vessels with rows of these distinctive birds. Influenced by both Phoenician and Greek imported pottery, the artists of this group merged outside influences of shapes and arrangement of decoration with a bird motif popular from earlier Etruscan art. Although probably made in the area around Caere, the pottery was very popular and exported not only within Etruria but also to areas in Lazio and Sicily.

Intact. Small chip on rim as you can see.

290mm

Sub-geometric period
Circa 680 BC - 670 BC

From my own collection. Acquired London 1996

Has a TL test certificate. See small hole  where sample taken.

Price: 2750.00 GBP