A bifacial wooden cross comprising intertwined elements with trefoil finials, resting on a tall stem decorated with wavy lines enclosed within a geometric frame, the stem resting on a tabula with an inscription on the front and vegetal decorative element on the back, rhomboidal termination with inscribed cross on both sides; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 600 grams, 43 cm high (50.7 cm high including stand)

Acquired from Owen Hargreaves, 2003.
UK private collection.

Cf. Korabiewicz, W., The Ethiopian cross, Addis Ababa, 1973, fig.66.

The Ethiopian manual cross is usually divided in three parts: the cross at the top; the handle; and a square element, the tablet, at the base. It is not easy to define the origin of the cross-borne tablets. There are three suppositions as to what they signify: according to one, the tablet represents the earth with its four corners. According to the second one, the tablet represents Adam's grave on Calvary. The third one is that it represents the Tabot, the highest relic of Ethiopia, the Ark of the Covenant. The cross belongs to the Kernebege (Horns of Ram) group, where the tips of the cross are reminiscent of ram's horns or trefoils. Inscriptions are only very rarely found on wooden, manual crosses like this maskal. They usually give the name of the owner or donor.

A pair of carved porphyry vases modelled on the famous 2nd century A.D. Roman Warwick Vase with Bacchic ornament, beading and egg-and-dart ornament around the rim, foliate vines below with both handles formed from two entwined vines, the body displaying a frieze of male and female masks modelled naturalistically in high relief, leaves radiating upwards from the centre base; each created in two parts and accompanied by a marble plinth; probably re-used ancient stone. 10.7 kg total, 29.5 cm wide each

English private collection.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11684-199805.

Cf. Historic England Archive, reference CC52/00545, for a photograph of the 'original' reconstruction of the vase taken whilst located at Warwick Castle.

The original vase was reputedly discovered at Hadrian's Villa, in Tivoli, Italy in 1771 A.D.; now in the Burrell Collection, Glasgow, Scotland. The vase is not entirely reconstructed from original elements but incorporates the restorer's interpretation of how missing elements of the vase likely appeared. The original vase was named after the 2nd Earl of Warwick who acquired it from his uncle, Sir William Hamilton, in c.1775.

A marble basket carved in the round with an oblong shape, woven body splayed base and a hollowed interior. 27.8 kg, 48 cm wide

English private collection.

A white marble statue of Venus of the Dolphin, modelled naturalistically in the round, nude, posed to preserve her modesty, two putti riding the dolphin; set on an oval base; after a Roman copy of a Hellenistic original; some damage and old repairs. 24.7 kg, 77 cm high

French collection, 1960s-early 2000s.
From an important Paris gallery, France.
with Ader Auction, Paris, France, 24th November 2017, lot 218.

The Venus of the Dolphin is a carrera marble statue dating from the 4th century B.C. which inspired copies dating from the Roman period, some of which survive and are housed in the Prado Museum, Madrid and the Capitoline Museum in Rome and elsewhere.

A marble interpretation of the famous 'Bathing Venus' (Pudica Venus) statue, modelled naturalistically in the round, nude, hair piled behind her head, holding her garment to her breast, standing on a composite discoid base imitating a stone pavement, with a casket at her feet; after Giambologna's Renaissance original; restored. 21.2 kg, 78 cm highOld repair to neck.

French collection, 1960s-early 2000s.
From an important Paris gallery, France.

The original 'Bathing Venus' statue in bronze has been attributed to Giambologna (Giovanni da Bologna) (1529-1608), and was probably created for King Henry IV of France as a diplomatic gift from Ferdinando I de’ Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany. This is a neoclassical interpretation of that Renaissance statue.

A copper-alloy copy of the original Greek bronze Diskobolos of Myron, portraying a youthful nude male athlete poised to spin to release his discus; naturalistically modelled; on a tiered octagonal stone display base. 27 kg, 65 cm high

French collection, 1960s-early 2000s.
From an important Paris gallery, France.
with Hampel Fine Art Auctions GmbH & Co KG, Munich, Germany, 12 December 2014, lot 1912.

The original Greek bronze (now lost) dated to circa 460–450 B.C., but the work is known through numerous Roman copies in marble.

A bronze study of a reclining nymph on a draped chaise longue, nude with head tilted back and lips sensuously parted, left hand stroking her luxuriant hair, right hand lifting a fold of the cloth cover, left leg bent and held beneath the right leg, cushioned headrest with tassel; hollow to the underside; unsigned. 5.4 kg, 34 cm long

English private collection.

A marble torso from a once larger statue of the goddess Venus, modelled naturalistically, inspired by Praxiteles's nude Aphrodite from the Greek city-state of Knidos. 51.1 kg total, 64 cm high including stand

French collection, 1960s-early 2000s.
From an important Paris gallery, France.

The original statue of nude Aphrodite (Venus) was created for the Temple of Aphrodite at Knidos as a devotion monument. It represented the nude Goddess as she proceeded for the ceremonial bath that regenerated her pureness, discreetly concealing herself with her hand and holding a cloth with her other hand. The monument is famous for its beauty, and it is intended to be seen from every aspect.

A bronze figure of a centaur in animated pose with upper body turned, right arm raised, left arm bent and hand holding a cudgel supported on the shoulder; cloak draped over the left shoulder and skin of a boar folded over the left forearm; on a tiered socle base. 10.3 kg, 53 cm high

French collection, 1960s-early 2000s.
From an important Paris gallery, France.

Modelled on the so-called Capitoline Centaurs, specifically the Young Centaur, which was found as one of a pair of centaurs during the excavation of Hadrian’s Villa in 1736; the Roman Old and Young centaur pair were themselves based on Hellenistic originals.

A marble copy of the kneeling Venus (original in the Vatican Museums), crouching on an octagonal base; the arms raised in expressive pose, head tilted, hair drawn up in a chignon; lettering to base 'KNEELING VENUS' and 'ROME'. 135 kg, 88.5 cm high

French collection, 1960s-early 2000s.
From an important Paris gallery, France.
with Auktionshaus Kaupp GmbH, Salzburg, Germany, 25 September 2016.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11688-199351.

Cf. Uffizi, Florence, inventory no. 1914 n.188.

The statue is modelled on an ancient original, commonly thought to represent Aphrodite. The original statue of the Crouching Venus was excavated in Salona (modern Solin near Split, Croatia). It was purchased for the Vatican Museums from where it was confiscated by the French under Napoleon, and subsequently returned to the Vatican in 1816.

A bronze statue modelled on the famous Farnese Hermes (now in the British Museum); the god portrayed naturalistically in the round, youthful and nude, a chlamys draped around his shoulders, winged sandals on his feet; discoid base. 16.3 kg, 82 cm high

French collection, 1960s-early 2000s.
From an important Paris gallery, France.
with Marion Antique Auction, USA, 8 June 2019, lot 131.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11689-199352.

The statue copies a Roman copy of a famous type created in the school of the Greek sculptor Praxiteles in the 4th century B.C. Villa de Papiri. A similar copy exists in the collection of the British Museum, London, under accession no. 1864,1021.1.

A bronze head of a youthful male athlete modelled naturalistically in the round in 1st-2nd century A.D. style. 8.7 kg, 37 cm high

French collection, 1960s-early 2000s.
From an important Paris gallery, France.

This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11690-199345.

Cf. The Metropolitan Museum, New York, accession number 15.143, for a similar bust of 1st-2nd century A.D. date.