Cypriot Terracotta Bull Rhyton

Comprising three standing korai on a rectangular base, each wearing a chiton and a himation draped diagonally from the right shoulder, centrally parted hair topped with a polos crown; hollow back, middle head restored. 480 grams, 19.3 cm



Private Swiss collection, 1990s. 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.12665-236417. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Korai (young women) were common votive dedications in the Archaic and Classical world, particularly at sanctuaries of Demeter, Persephone, and Hera. To have a group of maidens, such as this example, is highly unusual, and evokes the ritual dances of marriageable young women in the Greek world.

Modelled in the round with bands of hatched texture to the back, rump and horns, pierced lug muzzle, incised detailing. 501 grams, 17 cm long



UK private collection, 1994. European private collection. Accompanied by a thermoluminescence analysis report no.N125e38 from Oxford Authentication. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12656-234662. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Crescentic frontal panel from a necklace or collar; sheet gold band with slight carination, lightly incised leaf and berry detailing; applied filigree band to each end with double-loop attachment points; three applied foil rosettes; eleven banded agate dangles to the lower edge with sheet gold suspension; a marriage of ancient parts. 33.84 grams, 15.2 cm



Acquired in the mid 1980s-1990s. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12591-232174. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Rosettes were one of the most desired decorations on jewellery. Diadems with rosettes are attested from the archaic period onwards. One of the rosette types was the so-called flower-head from Madytos, which most closely resembled the common wild or dog rose. The rose was, of course, much prized in ancient times for its wonderful scent and as the favoured flower of Aphrodite, the goddess of love: the lyric poet Anakreon called it ‘the perfume of gods, the joy of men’.