Cypriot Terracotta Votive Horn

In black-painted geometric buffware, with wide bands of black painted decoration on the ovoid body and on the rim, loop handles. 164 grams, 11.8 cm wide



Ex P.A., Hertfordshire, UK, specialist collection of Greek art, 1980-1990s. Accompanied by a copy of an old typed catalogue slip.

The type is well known on Cyprus from 850 B.C. The simplification of the geometric ornaments in panels on the neck and shoulder suggest that the present specimen is later than the Geometric Period.

Composed of a shallow bowl and broad flange rim, two integral scalloped handles with scrolled flourishes, tapering to a loop handle with swan head terminals each with incised eye and beak detailing; perforated whirl within roundel to interior base; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. 160 grams, 22.2 cm wide (526 grams total including stand)



Ex private South German collection, 1980s. with Christie's, New York, 8 June 2012, lot 86. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato. Accompanied by copies of the relevant Christie's pages. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11578-198980.

Elaborate silver strainers, such as this present example, were used at symposia and festive occasions for the purpose of preventing the dregs of wine from entering the wine cup. This and other related silver utensils became popular in the later 4th and 3rd century B.C. These highly decorated wine strainers were fitted with dual handles forming loops in the shape of twisting animals, here a swan. Usually they took the form of a shallow dish complete with four rings of perforations in the centre in order to drain the wine. Strainers of this type were used to separate out sediments which could be found in the thick Greek wine. Examples similar to this one have been found in royal tombs in northern Greece, as well as the tomb of a monarch in Sudan.

With piriform body and trumpet-shaped mouth, two lateral strap handles; red linear hatching to the body, panels to the shoulder with recumbent dogs, above them profile horses with erect manes; stripes to the mouth and handles. 989 grams, 28 cm



Private collection Leontine Goldschmidt, née Leontine Porges Edle von Portheim, 17 February 1863 Prag-25 August 1942, Heidelberg, thence Prof. Dr. Hampe. Accompanied by a copy of an Art Loss Register certificate number S00019378, dated 31 October 2008. Accompanied by an original thermoluminescence analysis report no.N123n67 from Oxford Authentication. Accompanied by a copy of the relevant Kunst der Antike catalogue pages where it is published. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11951-210764.