Greek Attic Black-Figure Eye Cup Fragment Depicting Dionysos Riding a Donkey

With curved rim, carinated profile and low foot; rim with reserved wave pattern, tondo with reserved ring enclosing a chimera in profile advancing on an egg-and-dart baseline; repaired and partly restored. 342 grams, 20.5 cm wide



Ex private North American collection. Acquired in the United States, 2010. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato. Accompanied by a thermoluminescence analysis report no.N126a12 from Oxford Authentication. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13028-246781.

The legend of Bellerophon and the chimaera was a subject highly appreciated by the Greek ceramists. Red-figure Apulian plates depicting the chimaera were realised in South Italian workshops dating back to around 350-340 BC. The most famous example and possible prototype is the one held at the Musée du Louvre in Paris, created using the red-figure technique.

Comprising a shallow bowl and broad flange rim, two integral scalloped handles with lateral scrolled flourishes, each tapering to a S-curved handle with swan-head terminals with incised eye and beak detailing; perforated whirl within roundel to interior base; accompanied by a custom-made display stand with mirror. 402 grams total, 19.7 cm including stand



with Hôtel des ventes de Belfort Sarl, October 2011, no.16. Acquired by the present owner at the above sale. 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.12209-222140.

Elaborate gilded strainers, such as this present example, were used at symposia and festive occasions for the purpose of preventing the dregs of wine from entering the wine cup. This and other related silver utensils became popular in the late 4th and 3rd century B.C. These highly decorated wine strainers were fitted with dual handles forming loops in the shape of twisting animals, here a swan. Usually, they took the form of a shallow dish complete with four rings of perforations in the centre in order to drain the wine. Strainers of this type were used to separate out sediments found in the thick Greek wine. Examples similar to this one have been found in royal tombs in northern Greece, as well as the tomb of a monarch in Sudan.

Discoid in plan with a deeply engraved clean-shaven male bust; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 3.11 grams, 17 mm



Private English collection, formed between the late 1970s and early 1990s. Private collection, London, UK.