Cypriot Geometric Terracotta Jar

Comprising a round pedestal supporting four small offering pots, interspersed with four female face protomes; looped handle to the centre with parallel strokes in low-relief. 623 grams, 16 cm high



From the West German collection of H.W. Acquired from the De Mynter, Belgium, in 2011. with Gorny and Mosch, Munich, 3 June 2017, no.52. Private Portuguese R.M. collection. Accompanied by a previous catalogue information slip.

The kernos can be recognised by a series of small cups on the lip, with examples dating back to the Bronze Age. It was used to store offerings made to the gods, specifically in cults pertaining to Demeter and Persephone. The receptacles probably contained foodstuffs, or perhaps flowers, and a lamp was sometimes placed in the centre. Kernoses, such as this, were often carried in processions at the Eleusinian Mysteries (secret initiation rites celebrating the goddesses Demeter and Persephone) and were an important object for Greek religious life. Kernoses are thus closely related to the agrarian cult and to the myth of Persephone and Demeter, the goddess of fertility and agriculture. The myth is recounted in an Homeric Hymn (c. 650 B.C.) according to which Persephone, Demeter’s daughter, was seized by Hades, the king of the underworld, who brought her to his kingdom to make her his wife. Distraught, Demeter caused a terrible drought, which continued until Persephone returned to her mother from the underworld. Having consumed pomegranate seeds whilst she was in the Underworld, she was only able to be with her for a few months of the year.

Comprising an ellipsoid bow with lateral knops (one absent) and applied collars, longitudinal band of applied filigree braid, knop finial with collar, perpendicular two-coil spring and long pin; footplate with incised saltire with reversed-loop finial, square catchplate with pointillé gammadion and frame. 6.86 grams, 42 mm



Private European collection, 1994, thence by descent.

Right foot from a statue, hollow-formed and modelled in naturalistic style, with toes slightly curled; with surface deposits and traces of pigment. 868 grams, 19 cm



From the private collection of C.H., Niedersachsen, acquired between the 1960s and 1987. Acquired from Gorny & Mosch, Munich, Germany, 18 December 2018, lot 94 (part). Property of a South Australian private collector, with collection reference 18.10. Accompanied by detailed collector's catalogue pages including description and photograph. Accompanied by a copy of the Gorny & Mosch invoice.