Cypriot Bichrome Ware Amphora

The female seated on a chair with arm-supports at the sides, wearing a long robe with ruched panel to the chest and pleated sleeves, the hair drawn up into a transverse band above the brow, surmounted by a tiara; hands across the waist holding an infant with head erect; mounted on a custom-made stand; repaired. 1.54 kg total, 24 cm high including stand



From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.

The statuette probably represents the goddess of fertility, originally imported from Crete in the 11th century B.C. but whose iconography survived in Cyprus until the 5th century B.C. The tiara is a characteristic attribute of this divinity, related to the Greek Demeter. The statue is probably a votive statue propitiatory for births.

Of conical profile with raised ropework detailing to the broad shoulder. 1.48 kg, 14.6 cm wide



Private European collection, 1992. Thence by descent. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12086-218214.

Formed with a high foot and loop handle to the inturned rim, decorated on the outside rim with a complex pattern of interlocked chevrons perhaps representing two seated figures. 410 grams, 18 cm



From the estate of Mr Robert Onsted (1948-2011). Ex Malter Galleries Inc, California, USA, 2007. Palmyra Heritage Gallery, New York, USA, 19 October 2020, lot 141. Property of a South Australian private collector, with collection reference 20.21. Accompanied by detailed collector's catalogue pages including description and photograph.

Hencken notes that cover-bowls as the lids of urns assume various closely related shapes; if there is ornament, it generally consists of some of the same decoration as is found on urns.