An Attic Red-figured Pelike, attributed to the Painter of London E497, circa 430 B.C.

with disk foot and triple handles, the body painted with a young warrior pursuing a woman and holding a plumed helmet, spear, and serpent-emblazoned shield, two himation-clad men on the reverse, one holding a walking stick, a band of oblique palmettes above the scene on each side.

R. Bloch Collection, Basel
Christie's, London, November 21st, 1978, no. 175, pl. XXVI
Sotheby's, New York, November 21st and 22nd, 1985, no. 54, illus.

John D. Beazley, Attic Red-figure Vase-painters, 2nd ed., Oxford, 1963, p. 1079, no. 4, and p. 1682 ("Addenda"); Beazley states that this pelike "seems influenced by the Danae Painter."
L. Burn and R. Glynn, Beazley Addenda, Oxford, 1982, p. 160
T.H. Carpenter, with T. Mannack and M. Mendonça, Beazley Addenda, 2nd ed., Oxford, 1989, p. 326
Beazley Archive Pottery Database, no. 214498

Intact with a flaw resulting in a small depression between the legs of the warrior, this area misfired and covered with black paint, proper right foot of warrior painted yellow, areas of abrasions over lower part of warrior visible in photograph, there is paint on top of the sakkos and along the face of the woman, but it does not seem to be restoration, only inpainting where the clay background was worn maybe, small area of flaking to glaze painted in black under meander band below warrior, very minor nicks elsewhere.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

The only other pelike attributed to the same painter is decorated with similar subjects. It is in the Museo Archeologico Nazionale in Naples, inv. nos. RC155 and 86310 (Beazley, op. cit., 1963, p. 1079, no. 3).