Cypriot Terracotta Ram

Standing figure tightly wrapped in a himation with both hands clenching the fabric draped close to the body. Over 500 kg, 152 cm high



Prof. Dr. Ernst Berger (1928-2006), Basel, acquired between 1961-1993. with Jean-David Cahn, Basel, 2009. On loan to the Antikenmuseum und Sammlung Ludwig, Basel, 1993-2009. Accompanied by an academic report by Professor Neritan Ceka. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12213-222441.

Despite the damage, the statue appears to be a high quality piece of work by a virtuoso sculptor. The sparing use of strong movements and their diagonal contrast in the hand and foot placement suggests an early Hellenistic date for this type of sculpture, known from a few examples from Attica and the islands. Similar representations of women wearing the chiton and himation during the Hellenistic period are seen in the Tanagra type terracottas of the 4th century BC.

Conical in form with rounded shoulder, everted rim and two round-section handles; painted with concentric bands around the interior and exterior. 243 grams, 15.5 cm wide



Acquired in Europe before 1992. European collection.

The skyphos was already well known in Greece since the age of the Achaeans. In Homer, Eumaeus, the swineherd, prepares for his guest Ulysses a cyssibium filled with wine which the hero drinks during the meal and, when he is full, Eumaeus makes him drink from the cup in which he himself was using, a skyphos. Ulysses also offers Polyphemus a drink in a skyphos.

Comprising a pedestal base, mastoid body, lateral strap handles and funicular neck, broad mouth with stepped rim; the neck and rim decorated with a band of egg-and-dart; both faces of the body decorated with a figural scene with a standing male on the left with close-fitting cap, long cloak or mantle reaching from shoulder to knee and clasped at his right shoulder with a disc brooch, holding in his left hand a key-shaped object; to his right, a chest-high structure with palmette at the top, waisted shaft and arcaded base; to the right, a female standing facing the male, wearing a crested helmet or headdress, peplos dress gathered at her waist and extending to the floor, holding in her right hand a diadem or wreath towards the male; palmettes below the handles, the base with red and black banding; the strap handles undecorated; likely Campanian workmanship. 969 grams, 25.2 cm



Acquired in Münich in 2012. European private collection 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 search certificate number no.12190-222344.

During the late 5th century B.C., Attic imports ceased as the Spartans blockaded trade routes during the Peloponnesian War (431-404 B.C.). In response, five areas in southern Italy, Campania, Paestum, Apulia, Lucania, and Sicily began to produce red-figure vases. The decoration offered a remarkable range of subjects associated not only with mythological images, but with representations the local life, costumes and customs. The simple, single figure compositions decorating each side of this vase were also characteristic of the style, which tended to avoid complex mythological scenes often found on much larger vessels like volute craters, favouring representation of the daily life of south Italic Hellenised peoples.