Greek and Other Pottery Fragment Group

Squat skyphos on a low, pared conical base; two small horizontal handles round in section, short flaring everted rim; painted in dark brown with decoration limited to two window-like areas between the handles; on either side of the bowl two large ducks moving to the right with incision and overpaint clarifying the mass of the bodies, wings indicated with two quick horizontal strokes and a row of pendant arcs or scallops with dots of red and white overpaint for a rich, feathered effect; rosettes filling the space around the ducks. 257 grams, 18 cm wide



In the collection of Mr Ulfert Wilke, founding Director of the University of Iowa Museum of Art. Acquired from Ulfert Wilke on 29 May 1968. From the collection of Dr Howard Sirak, Columbus, Ohio, USA. Ex I.M. Chait Gallery, Los Angeles, USA, 14 December 2020, lot 212. Property of a South Australian private collector, with collection reference 20.34. Accompanied by detailed collector's catalogue pages including description and photograph.

The catalogue cites this piece as no. 3.10 from the Wilke Collection and the original sticker is on the base. The catalogue was for the exhibition at the University of Iowa Museum of Art from 17 March to 30 April 1971.

With stamped retrograde inscription and rectangular panel : 'ΕΠΙ NΙΚΑΣΑΓΟΡΑ[Σ]' = under Nikasagoras. 49 grams, 82 mm



Acquired in the 1970s. From the private collection of a retired East Anglian teacher.

This fragment of Rhodian Amphora carries the Eponym official 'Nikasagoras', referring to the Eponym Officer of Rhodes of the year in which the amphora was produced and stamped. He is a well known eponym, also attested by an inscription. His stamps are individualised in comparison to those of the other two namesakes, Nikasagoras the Elder (circa 240 B.C.) and Nikasagoras 1 (circa 172–171 B.C.). These officers seem to have been those of the annually chosen priests of Helios who were the dating authorities of the Rhodian state.

Biconvex in profile with broad shoulder and pinched trefoil mouth, strap handle to the rear; band of incised multilinear zigzag ornament to the shoulder. 903 grams, 14.8 cm



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.

The vessel belongs to the group of Philia red polished ware, a ware imported in Cyprus from Anatolian refugees, or locally made by copying external imports. It was characterised by multiple zigzag and open herringbone bands.