STUNNING APULIAN PELIKE WITH FUNERARY SCENE BY THE CIRCLE OF VARRESE PAINTER. Ca. 360 - 340 BC. A red-figure Apulian pelike, circa mid-4th century BC, features a pear-shaped body rising from a low foot, accompanied by twin vertical handles capped with a flanged rim. On one side, a winged Eros advances, bearing a wreath above a standing nude youth draped in a chlamys, while on the reverse, a elegantly attired woman holds a phiale towards a draped male carrying a wreath—each scene framed by floral palmettes and rosettes, characteristic of the "plain style" decoration. The black-slip ground is punctuated with reserved clay figures enhanced by applied white details, notably in jewellery and garment hems. A meander pattern encircles the belly above the foot, reflected in palmette friezes on the neck. The vessel’s sinuous neck and rounded belly highlight its functional elegance. Traces of added pigments—yellow and white—remain in selective areas. This pelike exemplifies the South Italian fusion of Greek iconography and local ceramic artistry at its peak. For similar see: Trendall, The Red-Figured Vases of Apulia.: Volume 1: Early and Middle Apulian by A. Cambitoglou, A. D. Trendall (Hardcover, 1978), Plate 111. Size: 530mm x 290mm; Weight: 4.19kg Provenance: Property of a central London gallery, previously acquired on the Dutch art market; previously acquired on the Belgian art market; Steven Vanhoutten, Brussels 1995. This item has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database and comes with a confirmation letter.