An Attic Black-figure Trefoil Oinochoe, attributed to the Painter of Munich 1760/Altenburg Class, circa 530-520 B.C.

with echinus foot and high centrally ribbed handle with rotelles on the rim, the frontal panel painted with the introduction of Herakles to Olympus, Athena and the hero riding in a quadriga, a kerykeion branded on the rump of the nearest horse, the goddess holding the reins and wearing a high crested Attic helmet, her aegis with serpents emerging behind, Herakles wearing the lion-skin over his head and holding the club at his shoulder, Apollo and Dionysos standing before them and facing one another, Apollo playing the kithara, Dionysos holding his drinking horn, Hermes leading the procession and carrying the kerykeion, the panel decorated on each side with ivy leaves, a band of black tongues above, a red-figure floral collar between two torus moldings at the base of the neck, the details in added white and red.

Charles Dikran Kelekian, New York
Christos G. Bastis Collection, New York, acquired from the above in 1979 (Sotheby's, New York, Antiquities from the Collection of the late Christos G. Bastis, December 9th, 1999, no. 91, illus.)

John D. Cooney, "Antiques: Pottery of the Past, the Elegant Achievements of Early Cultures," Architectural Digest, no. 36, 1979, p. 90, illus. 
Antiquities from the Collection of Christos G. Bastis (exhibition catalogue), The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1987, no. 156, illus.
Beazley Archive Pottery Database, no. 28053

Repaired from multiple fragments. Part of foot repaired. Small areas of missing glaze on foot, painted black. Several areas of restoration on body, including one above foot, around the handle base, an extensive one from the handle base to the right edge of the painted scene, and a small triangular one on the neck. Handle broken and re-attached. Painted scene very well preserved except for small visible fills, including on wheel of chariot, back of Athena, part of head of the horse in foreground. Losses of glaze on side of the trefoil lip. Labels on underside of base include: small rectangular white label typewritten "156"; circular light-blue label handwritten "HC # 217".
"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. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

The scene depicted on the present example was popular in the 6th Century B.C. and was probably inspired or suggested by the return of Peisistratos to Athens and the Acropolis in the early 550s; see J. Boardman, Athenian Black Figure Vases, New York, 1974, p. 224.