Eastern Mediterranean Stone and Glass Bead Collection

Central bulb to the keeled bow, integral pin and large catch-plate. 42 grams, 95 mm



From the family collection of a Surrey gentleman since before 1960.

The function of the catch-plate fibulae was utilitarian and decorative, they were used for woollen clothing (Herodotus V, 87) and they have been found in houses, tombs and as votive offerings in sanctuaries. This typology was introduced in South Italy by the Greeks, and was widespread in the Magna Graecia. Like all female fibulae, it functioned as a clothing fastener, usually worn as a pair on each shoulder.

With inverted echinus lip and tall neck, a ribbed handle to each side with coiling lotus buds and palmettes beneath the handles; Side a) a running winged Gorgon depicted frontally, dressed in a black and red chiton; Side b) an aristocratic warrior wearing a Chalcidian helmet and driving a quadriga, the two central horses superimposed, the other two turned outward; a frieze of lotus buds and a band Greek key motifs below, the neck decorated with red and black palmettes, and elongated lotus blossoms; restored. 3.25 kg, 39 cm high



Acquired in Geneva in 1954. Formerly in the Y. Forrer collection, Geneva, Switzerland. Private collection, Switzerland, 1999. with Gorny & Mosch, Munich, 20 June 2012, lot 73. 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 a search certificate number no.11798-206784.

This wonderful vase can be attributed to the Swing Painter, active in Athens during the last part of the 6th century B.C. Beazley named him after the subject of a girl on a swing that he painted more than once. He was a pot painter, perhaps a pupil of the Princeton Painter. His black-figure paintings included a range of mythological subjects and some quite unusual images. A very large number of vases have been attributed to his hand on the basis of style. Characteristics of his painting in the mythological scenes, are the presence of hoplites, that give a very realistic rendering of the Greek Archaic warriors of mid-6th century B.C. (München, Staatliche Antikensammlungen 1385 [J 729] Beazley Archive Pottery Database 301590; Poseidon fighting the giant Polybotes, Louvre F226). An important artwork is the famous representation of the Tyrant Pysistratos and his Rabdophoroi (bodyguards armed with clubs, Athens National Archaeological Museum 15111, Beazley Archive Pottery Database 301523).

Segmented body with central filigree wiring, collared knops to three corners, integral coiled pin and trapezoidal catchplate with lotus flower engraved to the outer face, loop with stylised serpentine head to base. 13.5 grams, 63 mm



Acquired in Europe before 1994. European collection.