Archaic Greek Bronze Statuette of a Coiled and Rearing Snake

Comprising a bell-shaped thin-walled body with two strap handles and an everted rim, dark lip with a thin circumferential band below; each handle with a lentoid motif; narrow foot with two circumferential bands above. 206 grams, 16 cm wide



From the estate of a Swiss gentleman, Ticino, before 1970. with Galerie Rhéa, Zurich, Switzerland.

Daunian pottery is characterised by unique shapes and decorative motifs, which include geometric patterns, plant and animal motifs, and human figures. The pottery is typically made from a coarse clay, and it is decorated with black or dark brown slip, a type of liquid clay that is applied to the surface of the pottery before firing.

An expressive polychrome vase formed as the head of an actor wearing rosette earrings, open mouth and applied pupils, short neck with everted rim above and a small strap handle to the rear. 69.3 grams, 75 mm



Ex Louis-Gabriel Bellon, France, (1819-1899). with Galerie Rhéa, Zurich, Switzerland. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12667-236389.

In Greek theatre, actors wore masks made from materials like linen and leather, which amplified expressions and helped actors take on multiple roles within a single play. Aristotle, in his Poetics, highlighted the importance of masks in conveying emotion and character, especially in large outdoor theatres. This terracotta, representing the satirical mask of a woman, with its lively and expressive features, would have brought both humour and recognisable character traits to the stage, engaging audiences with the playful spirit of Greek comedy.

Carved in the round figure of the goddess standing nude with one hand raised and the other on her pudendum, her hair gathered into a chignon with lateral bunches on the crown and with voids to allow for the suspension of small gold earrings; putto at her left knee; left hand partly absent; remounted on a socle base. 1.2 kg, 32.7 cm



Acquired in the 1992. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12860-241669.

Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty, was one of the most widely worshipped deities in the ancient world, particularly across the eastern Greek regions of Asia Minor. In these areas, her image often blended traditional Greek ideals with local influences, giving rise to distinctive regional styles. Marble figures such as this would have served not only as works of art but also as expressions of devotion, reflecting both personal piety and broader cultural values surrounding beauty, fertility, and desire. The enduring popularity of Aphrodite’s image speaks to her central role in daily life, where she was invoked not just in matters of love, but also in marriage, prosperity, and well-being.