Most archaeologists agree that the antiquities market is ‘a bad thing’ since vases appear bereft of their context, are frequently purloined from ancient graves, and their high prices encourage illicit dealings. A few antiquaries opine that such vessels are still useful, because they often provide their own context, are evidence of workshop outputs, and give chronological, artistic, and iconographical information. In earlier times, such vases were published in basic or lavish catalogues held in university libraries, and thus permanently documented. The success of the internet as a sales platform means that ancient pots, ‘important’ and otherwise, appear briefly and disappear as quickly without a trace. One such vessel, a black pattern lekythos, is the subject of this article.
