Greek and Roman Bronze Ring Group

With a piriform body and narrow foot, deep shoulder and flange rim, strap handle to the rear; the rim and shoulder with radiating strokes, concentric bands to the body and foot, frieze of stylised running hounds below the shoulder. 34 grams, 63 mm high



Acquired 1980-1990s. From the private collection of H.N., Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire, UK.

Proto-Corinthian aryballoi of the same type, probably of Etruscan manufacture, in buff-ware decorated with dark metallic, purple-maroon and red-brown bands have been found in the Veii excavations. John Boardman noted that the shape in Corinth barely survives the 7th century, but these small pots are still found in Etruscan graves of the first half, or at least the first quarter, of the 6th century B.C.

Hollow-formed and with rounded facial features; wavy hair with central partition, dressed with a tall diadem. 74 grams total, 78 mm high



UK private collection. Acquired Spink, York, UK, 2009. Property of a Nottinghamshire gentleman.

The head is probably from a cult statuette of Demeter. Statuettes of the goddess, seated or standing, or even busts, are well documented in the south of Italy, both among the Greek colonists and the local populations; many have been excavated from regional sanctuaries.

The vessel with integral round-section upward-facing handles, a third, round-section handle placed vertically between shoulder and upper neck to rear; laurel sprigs to the neck with traces of gilding; combat scene with Amazons (and Trojans?) below, armed with short swords and crescent shields, most wearing an exomis leaving the shoulder and one breast uncovered; volute palmettes below both side-handles, a panel of tiered and swirling volutes to the rear, all on a band of egg-moulding, repeated around the rim; possibly Apulian or Campanian; restored. 3 kg, 46 cm high



Ex collection Woodyat, Rome, Italy, 1912. with Vente Genève, 24 & 25 June 1960. Private European collection. 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.11581-199028.

The mythological topic of this hydria is fascinating, representing a fight between Amazons and Greek or Trojan heroes (suggested by the central cavalryman wearing a Phrygian cap). During this period, Amazons were no longer represented as Persian or Scythian warriors, as in Attic red-figure ceramics, but depicted as athletic parthenoi and wearing chitons. Rather than oriental costume and armour, the Amazons wear a short exomis with a bare shoulder and breast (Patten, 2013, PI.VI, I, VI,2, 2 and 3).