Cypriot Terracotta Figure Group

Tapering flat-section body with ledge base, stub arms, applied facial detailing, tall polos headdress. 157 grams, 23 cm



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. Accompanied by a thermoluminescence analysis report from Oxford Authentication no.N124d7. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12087-214721.

With ribbed stem tapering to a low wide bowl; four loop handles on outside of bowl connecting outer lip of inverted rim to bowl; inside with nine wide equidistant grooves to centre of grooved circle at base of bowl; some restoration. 755 grams, 22.5 cm



From the George R. Francoeur Trust, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, with collection inventory no.319; acquired in 1982. Ex Hindman Auctions, Chicago, USA, sale, lot 72. Property of a South Australian private collector, with collection reference 20.09. Accompanied by detailed collector's catalogue pages including description and photograph. Accompanied by a Francoeur Trust inventory card with inventory number 82.319), along with collection label 319 to its base. George R. Francoeur (1934-2019) received his Master’s Degree of Fine Arts from the University of Michigan and was a dedicated arts teacher for many years at Cranbrook Academy of Arts. His collection of ancient art was offered at auction by Hindman Auctions, with the proceeds benefiting the George R. Francoeur Scholarship Fund at Cranbrook Academy of Art.

Impasto and bucchero also share techniques that were used to form and decorate the vessels. Bucchero chalices with distinctive fluted walls were popular products during the first half of the 6th century B.C. at a number of Etruscan sites. It is likely that the inspiration for fluted chalices came from metalwork. Undecorated examples have been found at Poggio Buco.

With stamped retrograde inscription and rectangular panel : 'ΕΠΙ NΙΚΑΣΑΓΟΡΑ[Σ]' = under Nikasagoras. 49 grams, 82 mm



Acquired in the 1970s. From the private collection of a retired East Anglian teacher.

This fragment of Rhodian Amphora carries the Eponym official 'Nikasagoras', referring to the Eponym Officer of Rhodes of the year in which the amphora was produced and stamped. He is a well known eponym, also attested by an inscription. His stamps are individualised in comparison to those of the other two namesakes, Nikasagoras the Elder (circa 240 B.C.) and Nikasagoras 1 (circa 172–171 B.C.). These officers seem to have been those of the annually chosen priests of Helios who were the dating authorities of the Rhodian state.