Etruscan Terracotta Votive Mask

White ware globular jug with pinched trefoil mouth and strap handle to the rear; painted 'eye' detailing to mouth, serpent pattern to handle with curled finial, pairs of gammadion motifs to the body, 285 grams, 14.5 cm high



Peter Cran collection, Scotland, who worked as an engineer for the Cypriot public works department 1931-1946; thence by descent. Acquired from Bonhams, London, 23 May 2012, no.6 (part). From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent. Accompanied by copies of the relevant Bonhams catalogue pages and original lot tag.

Modelled in the round as a miniature flat-bottomed boat with sternpost and three thwarts, one supporting the reclining figure of the boatman; supplied with a custom-made display stand. 728 grams total, 24.5 cm wide including stand



From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent. Accompanied by an old identification tag. Accompanied by an original thermoluminescence analysis report from Oxford Authentication.

A series of ship models, today preserved in the Metropolitan Museum and in the British Museum, depict in considerable detail the features of contemporary vessels, including the helmsman sitting in the bow, the spurs of the ships and the raised stern. All of the preserved ship models come from Amathus, indicating the importance of the site as a maritime centre. Our model could come from the same area. This clay model shows a man who comfortably sits on the back of the ship: we do not know his role and his activity, but – as observed by professor M.A. Mcintosh, he is part of a theōriā, a state pilgrim (theōros). Certainly, he represents the helmsman, the kubernētēs, i.e. the governor who directs the ship.

Modelled in the round with soft youthful features, short beard, small mouth and large lentoid eyes, tousled hair with a diadem above the brow; socket to the top of the head and remains of a spur to the reverse; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 3.86 kg total, 26.5 cm high including stand



Joseph Klein collection, formed in New York 1941-1980, thence by descent. Acquired from Bonhams, London, 24 October 2012, no.2. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent. Accompanied by a copy of the relevant Bonhams catalogue pages. 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.12002-212101.

Votive sculptures were the commonest form of Cypriot sculptures of the period. They were erected within the precincts of temples or covered sanctuaries, around the altar at which the god was worshipped. Thus, on Cyprus, the statuary was conceived as an ex-voto, an image expressing the desire of the believer to enter into intimate communion with and reside under the eternal protection of the gods.