Cypriot Terracotta Flask Group

Fragment of a hollow-formed statue of a warrior, the thigh and hip area with painted armour detailing; mounted on a custom-made stand. 535 grams total, 16 cm high (20.5 cm high including stand)



Ex private collection L.G., The Netherlands. Acquired from Treasuregate Art of the Ancients, Brussels, Belgium, in 2015. Property of a South Australian private collector, with collection reference 15.10. Accompanied by a copy of a Treasuregate Art of the Ancients certificate of authenticity with ref no.2015-11-22-03. Accompanied by detailed collector's catalogue pages including description and photographs.

The armour on the figure is the short-sleeved chitoniskos which was worn under the cuirass and protected the flexing areas around the groin and buttocks. The figure probably formed part of a frieze on a temple.

Bearing the weight of her body on her left leg, wearing a himation draped over her left and right arms, the right arm bent to grasp a part of the himation that falls behind her, leaving her shoulders uncovered and revealing her naked body; the head turned slightly to the left; the hair arranged in the typical flattering melon coiffure, parted into six large sections and gathered into a low bun; oval face with a small, fleshy mouth and a fine nose; wearing large circular earrings; her right hand resting on top of a small pillar, covered by the cloak; the lower part of the himation embroidered with volutes; the back flat with a square hole for attachment; red-brown pigment on the hair, white coating, traces of pink on the himation and red on the edges of the feet. 493 grams, 22.5 cm high



Collected in the 1950s-1990s. Ex R. Liechti collection (1934-2010), acquired in Geneva (Inventory No. R.788). Accompanied by an academic report by Raffaele D'Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11999-211931.

In particular in South Italy, two types of female statuettes leaning on small pillars were widespread, derived from Tanagra prototypes: the first type dressed in a high-belted chiton with crowned head, the second consisting of partially draped or nude female figures identified as Aphrodite, like our specimen. The Tanagra production ended in about 200 B.C., but the models created by the Boeotian workshops would continue to be produced until the end of the 1st century B.C. The statuette shows extensive traces of the original polychromy, characterised by strongly contrasting hues in keeping with the local style. The Tanagrine elements are mainly identifiable in the ‘melon coiffure’, the intense red colour of the hair and the pose characterised by the turned hip.

With circular body and raised rim, round central filling-hole flanked by cornucopiae; long broad nozzle with rounded spout-like termination; handle with three ribs. 62 grams, 10.5 cm



Collected from 1970-1999. From the collection of the late Mr S.M., London, UK.

The principal parts of a Graeco-Roman lamp were: a) the body or reservoir which contained the oil (infundibulum); the flat circular top (discus) on which the design was placed, sometimes with an ornamental rim; the edge (margo); the nozzle (rostrum, nasus, myxus) with a hole for the insertion of the wick (ellychnium); and the handle (ansa, manubrium,).