Condition: Near Mint
Height: 11″ (27.5cm)
Width: 6″ (15cm)
Length: 6″ (15cm)
Diameter: 6″ (15cm)
Year Manufactured: 1970
Photos form part of the description. Exact item shown; please review all images carefully.
This is…
Condition: Near Mint
Height: 11″ (27.5cm)
Width: 6″ (15cm)
Length: 6″ (15cm)
Diameter: 6″ (15cm)
Year Manufactured: 1970
Photos form part of the description. Exact item shown; please review all images carefully.
This is a vintage Greek Key black vase with real gold decoration and classical mythological figures. Made in 1970, it stands 11 inches tall (27.5 cm) with a 6 inch diameter (15 cm) and a handsome tapered form that shows off the glossy jet‑black glaze. The gold banding and figure scenes are crisp, with scrolling borders and a meander at the rim. Condition is near mint, with only light shelf wear and no chips or cracks—impressive for a piece about 56 years old. It’s an elegant statement for a mantel, entry table, or bookshelf.
Vases like this come from mid‑century Greek decorative pottery lines made for export and quality gift shops, often marked “Handmade in Greece” and “Gold” beneath. The Greek key (meander) symbolizes eternity, while the matte gold muses or deities were commonly transfer‑printed and then fired with real gold, usually around 22–24k. Workshops in Athens and on the islands—makers such as Apollo, Keramikos, Olympia, and similar studios—produced them in the late 1960s and 1970s. Larger 11‑inch examples in near mint shape are getting scarcer, as gilding rubs with use. If you’re collecting, look for crisp gilding, deep black glaze, and clear backstamps, and clean gently with a soft cloth while avoiding abrasives.
