C. 300 BC. Southern Italian. Beautiful terracotta pyxis comprising lid and bowl. The lid comprises a disk-shaped handle and inverted conical body while the bowl is hemispherical with equally spaced loop handles and a low ring foot. The bowl is a covered in a brown glaze while the lid features a rosette design on the handle and two women (both shown in profile) with elaborate, bejewelled coiffures and beaded necklaces; the women are divided by fields of vegetal designs. A pyxis is a type of vessel used in the ancient world by women for the storage of cosmetics. Excellent condition.Size: L:129mm / W:175mm ; 570g; Provenance: From an important British collection of Mr. C.S.; originally acquired in the 1980s on the UK/European art markets.