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_900x900.jpg "Greek Black-Figure Alabastron with Fighting Warriors")
_200x200.jpg "Greek Black-Figure Alabastron with Fighting Warriors")
_900x900.jpg "Greek Black-Figure Alabastron with Fighting Warriors")
_200x200.jpg "Greek Black-Figure Alabastron with Fighting Warriors")
_900x900.jpg "Greek Black-Figure Alabastron with Fighting Warriors")
_200x200.jpg "Greek Black-Figure Alabastron with Fighting Warriors")
.jpg "Greek Black-Figure Alabastron with Fighting Warriors")
.jpg "Greek Black-Figure Alabastron with Fighting Warriors")
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LOT 0071
Greek Black-Figure Alabastron with Fighting Warriors
ATTIC, 500-480 B.C.
6 1/4 in. (262 grams total, 16 cm high including stand).
Of ovoid shape, short neck and expanded flat rim; painted in horizontal bands with black vertical strokes the shoulder, ovules in the upper part, the central scene representing a Greek Ekdromos fighting a Scythian archer; the Greek warrior, wearing a light sleeveless chiton, and a crested Corinthian helmet, carrying a wide hoplon shield, and a long spear with which he is slashing his opponent; the Scythian archer is wearing a typical tall cap flowing backwards and his long coat-suit, carrying a gorytos, (quiver) and composite bow with arrow; horizontal black stripes below; accompanied by a custom-made display stand.
ProvenanceLouis-Gabriel Bellon (1819-1899) collection, France.
European private collection, 2009.
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 a search certificate number no.13019-246753.
Cf. for similar images Ivantchik, A.I., ‘’Scythian’ Archers on Archaic Attic vases: problems of interpretation’ in Ancient Civilizations from Scythians to Siberia, 12,3-4, Leiden, 2006, figs.nos.5,8; for the Greek and Scythian military costume Sekunda, N., The Ancient Greeks, London, 1986, pp.13-15; Head, D., The Achaemenid Persian Army,Stockport, 1992, figs.12,21, from similar alabastra; Sekunda, N., The Athenian Army 507-322 BC, Oxford, 2025, fig.p.20.
FootnotesThe importance of this alabastron is linked to its iconography, which represents episodes of the Persian Wars, fought 490-480 B.C. Such alabastra are part of a series realised during the period of the conflict and after, and they are an important source of information on the Persian and Greek armies. Here, the two opponents evoke the Greek victories, with a light-armed Greek ekdromos (hoplite fighting in light equipment) killing a Scythian archer, who formed part of the Persian army. The representation of Scythian costume in vase-painting reached its height of popularity between c. 530 and 490 B.C., and went out of fashion after the Graeco-Persian wars, when these clothes began to be associated with the Persian ethnic identity rather than the original Scythian.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0071
Greek Black-Figure Alabastron with Fighting Warriors
Estimate £30,000 - 40,000€34,800 - 46,400 (for guidance only)$40,500 - 54,000 (for guidance only)
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Greek Bronze Bird
Geometric, 8th-6th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Modelled in the round with pelta-shaped tail, columnar neck and pellet eyes; pierced through chest and back for attachment. 11.16 grams, 38 mm
Ex collection Mr K.H., Germany. Private collection, acquired in 2012. -
Greek Bronze Kouros Patera Handle with Bowl
Archaic, circa 480 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £7,150
The handle formed as a nude youth supporting a panel of double volutes and half-palmettes, long braided hair falling at the back of the neck and on his forehead; the legs joined and ankles extended, the feet enclosed in pointed shoes, palmette below; accompanied by the bowl with inverted rim, a pair of parallel lines to the outer rim; the handle and part of the rim detached and mounted separately on the custom-made display stand. 1.35 kg total, 45.5 cm high including stand
with Herbert A. Cahn, Basel, 1990s. Accompanied by a copy of an Art Loss Register certificate no.S00075168. 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 no.12462-228709.
Anthropomorphic handles with images of young naked boys connected with animals were widespread and used for mirrors. The object, in particular, is part of the group of mirrors and paterae with standing youths (male and female, probably symbolising athletes) and nude female mirror caryatids (Mitten-Doeringer, 1968, figs.87-88) serving as vertical handles. -
Greek Terracotta Citharode
6th-4th century B.C.Estimate: £1,500 - 2,000 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £750
D-shaped in section with close-cut hairstyle, standing, holding a cithara supported on the left arm, strumming with the right hand. 62 grams, 86 mm
Ex Shlomo Moussaieff (1925-2015), Israel. European private collection. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13107-246791.
