Daunian Terracotta Olla

With rounded base and cylindrical body gently tapering towards the top. 137 grams, 94 mm wide



Ex London, UK, collections, 1990s-2000s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Such small cylindrical cups were destined for everyday use, and some bronze specimens of the same typology, were often engraved on their outer surface with groups of animals. A large variety of drinking-cups were in use among the ancients; Athenaeus in the eleventh book of his Deipnosophists gives a long list of names of such cups, but his descriptions are not sufficient to identify them with any known shapes; moreover, a great many appear to be fanciful names that had come into favour at the time.

Seated on a high-backed throne, wearing a polos headdress with two long braids falling from underneath the headdress, wearing a long chiton fastened by a belt, the left arm raised, possibly once holding a dove; well marked facial features, slightly almond-shaped large symmetrical eyes with slightly raised eyelids, straight nose, strongly pronounced mouth with fleshy lips and shallow ears; traces of brown slip, repaired. 2.02 kg, 57.7 cm



with H.A.C., Basel, prior 1999. Accompanied by a thermoluminescence analysis report no.N125a51 from Oxford Authentication. 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 no.12461-228712. 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.

One of the most typical 6th century B.C. terracotta female figurines was that of a standing or seated woman wearing a chiton and a himation over it. It was a votive figure offered at the shrines or temples, usually representing the goddess Demeter. Attica was one of the principal centres of figurine production, but Corinth continued to produce solid standing or seated females with moulded fronts and flat backs. The mass production of such terracotta was also typical of Magna Graecia.

Domed in profile with knop handle, painted rosette design to centre, two profile female portraits with cream and white detailing. 86 grams, 91 mm wide



From the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.