An Attic Black-Figured Amphora of Panathenaic Shape, Attributed to Close to the Princeton Group, Circa 540 B.C.

painted on one side with Athena Promachos between two columns each surmounted by an owl, and on the other side with a kithara player standing on a stepped podium between two seated draped youths, linked lotus buds and palmettes on the neck, the details in added red.

William Henry Fox Talbot (1800-1877), Lacock Abbey, Wiltshire
English private collection, by descent (Christie's, London, October 27th, 2009, no. 187, in fragments)

Repaired from multiple fragments with restorations to the handle and handle zone to the left of the Athena Promachos panel, including the top of the column in front of the figure of Athena and the surmounting owl. Also restored are the upper body of the right hand seated figure on the reverse panel, the adjacent section between seated figure and standing kithara player up to the area below the neck. Section in front of and above the shield, ending at the plume of the helmet, also restored below the neck. Restored handle missing 1/2 inch section at neck. Misfiring on foot, below and along the right side of the Athena panel, on mouth above figure of Athena, and around the lower left corner of the Athena panel. Wear to decoration at neck with some red wash missing and wear to background of palmettes, wear also to painted tongues below neck. Underside of foot entirely covered in red paint. Images of the vase prior to repair available upon request.
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.

William Henry Fox Talbot was the inventor of the negative/positive photographic process. This amphora was photograped by him in its fully restored state. The original image, much faded and very indistinct, is now in the British Library, London.

For two related examples in The Metropolitan Museum of Art see M. B. Moore, "The Princeton Painter in New York", Metropolitan Museum Journal, vol. 42, 2007, p. 29, figs. 14-15, and 36, figs. 23-25 (inv. no. 1989.281.89, also with a musical contest on its reverse, attributed by Dietrich von Bothmer to the Princeton Painter, and a full-size Panathenaic amphora by the artist, inv. no. 53.11.1).