Greco-Roman Stevenson Lipari
- Comments
-
Glasgow Museums has a collection of 139 Ancient Greek terracotta model acting masks, figurines and ceramics from the Italian Island of Lipari. These date from 400 to 200 BC. This important collection contains fine red-figured vases, including work by the Lipari Painter, and terracottas relating to Greek theatre. It is the only significant group of such material outside the island of Lipari. The small collection of 16 terracotta model acting masks represents stage characters, principally from Greek New Comedy, but also from Old Comedy, tragedy and satyr plays. These masks are of the highest quality, and in some cases are superior to examples surviving in Lipari made from the same moulds. The collection also contains 13 terracotta human figurines and examples of ceramics representative of 6th century BC Laconian and 5th century BC Attic Black and Red Figure wares. There are good examples of late 4th century BC Sicilian Red Figure wares and two fine late 4th century BC calyx-kraters (wine-mixing bowls), which illustrate the link between Greek theatre and Dionysos. James Stevenson of Largs purchased this collection in 1879 from excavations carried out on the Aeolian island of Lipari, Italy, and loaned it to Glasgow Museums in 1885. It was bequeathed to Glasgow Museums after Stevenson’s death in 1903.
- Broader term