Gilt Silver Bull Statuette

Hollow-formed copy of the Mars of Todi, a figure of an Etruscan warrior wearing segmented armour to the chest and shoulders, crested helmet, short tunic; the hands in animated pose with left hand open to accept a weapon; holes beneath feet for mounting. 7.6 kg, 61.5 cm high



French collection, 1960s-early 2000s. From an important Paris gallery, France. with Galerie Athena, Brussels, 9 May 2019, lot 393. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11691-199344.

The "Mars of Todi" figure is a large, almost life-sized bronze statue of a warrior in armour. It dates from the late 5th - early 4th century B.C., and is believed to have been produced by an Etruscan workman for an Umbrian patron. The figure was probably a votive offering for a religious sanctuary, perhaps sacred to Laran, the Etruscan god of war. It had been buried ritually and left undisturbed until its modern discovery in 1835. It lacks a helmet, and the hands are empty; possibly a patera plate was originally in the open right hand, and a spear gripped in the clenched left hand. The sculptor of the figure followed the Greek contrapposto posture accentuating the carefully modelled lamellar plate armour. The statue bears a short inscription in Umbrian "Ahal Trutitis dunum dede" (Ahal Trutitis gave this gift).

Advancing right against a gilt background, holding a staff, an ornate nimbus composed of arcades and trefoils behind his head; label to reverse for the Serbian Republic, dated 1970. 705 grams, 34.5 cm



Ex French gallery, Paris.

The painting represents a section of the Annunciation. The composition of the subject is well known from the Palaiologan paintings and from Balkan and Russian art since the 14th century A.D. The angel is advancing towards the frightened Virgin, with three fingers of the right hand raised and recalling the Trinity of God. The other hand is holding a staff, symbol of His investiture as Officer of the Heavenly Court and Archangel (Chief of the Angels).

The hoop carinated, kidney-shaped cabochon held in a claw setting with engraved scalloped border. 8.65 grams, 27.52 mm overall, 16.86 mm internal diameter (approximate size British L, USA 5 3/4, Europe 11.24, Japan 10)



Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection.