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LOT 0092
Greek Black-Figure Kylix with Warriors and Sphinxes
ATTIC, CIRCA 530 B.C.
10 3/4 in. (414 grams, 27.3 cm wide).
Comprising: a broad shallow bowl with two loop handles curving up towards the rim, short stem and broad foot with chamfered outer edge; the bowl with reserved central disc to inner face, palmette motifs at the junctions of the handles, frieze depicting two standing nude males flanking a crouching sphinx in profile; restored and with old dealer's labels beneath base.
ProvenanceEx Prof. F.S., Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany, 1991.
with Gallery Drees Archeo S.P.R.L., Brussels.
Acquired from the above, 16 December 2017.
Accompanied by a copy of an Art Loss Register certificate, no.S00041086.
Accompanied by a Gallery Drees Archeo certificate of authenticity.
Accompanied by a thermoluminescence report no.0102 0910 from Laboratory Ralf Kotalla, 6 September 2010.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12945-246388.
For similar examples of kylikes with black-attic figures see the British Museum, London, 1836,0224.65 (Gorgoneion and hippalectryon), 1864,1007.1701 (Hermes and Dionysos); compare with 1864,1007.1688 (Heracles and the Erymanthian boar), 1864,1007.296 (satyrs and dolphin); Athens, Museum of Cycladic Art ΝΓ0702 (‘eyes’ kylix); New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art 44.11.1 (Menelaos and Helen), 56.171.36 (‘eyes’ kylix with ships and warriors), 96.18.64 (‘eyes’ kylix), 98.8.25 ((‘eyes’ kylix with satyrs), 96.18.65 (‘eyes’ kylix); Los Angeles, J. Paul Getty Museum 96.AE.96 (fish market); Brooklyn, Brooklyn Museum 33.399 (procession of men).
FootnotesThe present piece is a wide-bowled drinking cup known as a kylix - one of the most popular forms of pottery from the Achaean times (1600-1100 B.C.) through to the classical period (c.510-323 B.C.). It dates to an important moment in the development of Greek ceramics, just as the black-figure technique was being perfected by Athenian painters. Painted in black slip with details incised on top, kylikes usually had a frieze around the outside of the bowl as well as another scene on the tondo of the inside. The scene here represented can be linked with the well-known episode of Oedipus and the Sphinx.
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Greek Terracotta Alabastron
Etrusco-Corinthian, circa 6th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £468
Piriform body with narrow neck and flaring rim with a small loop handle below, decorated with radiating strokes below the neck, followed by eight rows of dot decoration flaked by red and black circumferential bands. 88 grams, 11.1 cm
From the collection of the late Sir Clinton Charles Donald Cory, 5th Baronet of Coryton. Ex Philip Auction House, 24 September 1985. Accompanied by two previous information cards. -
Greek Gold Amuletic Bird
5th-1st century B.C.Estimate: £1,500 - 2,000 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £750
Comprising a sheet-gold hollow-formed avian figure with applied filigree detailing, and a separate beaked head; accompanied by a rectangular blue glass fragment. 0.57 grams, bird: 19 mm
Private collection, USA and Switzerland, acquired in the late 1980s-early 1990s; thence by descent. -
Greek Red-Figure Column Krater with Bull and Rider
Attic, 5th century B.C.Estimate: £30,000 - 40,000 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £15,000
With a flared and stepped foot, poppy-head border around the lower body and neck, strap handles with palmettes to the upper faces opening to two columnar legs; red-figure scenes to the neck and body: Side A, Europa's abduction: standing bearded figure in profile wearing a loose himation holding the lid of a krater in one hand facing a female figure in draped himation revealing one breast, turning to face the male while mounted on an advancing bull and carrying a frond; Side B, Dionysiac scene: satyr standing nude, playing a lyre beside a standing robed male wearing a laurel wreath in his hair, dancing female in active pose with musical instruments in each hand, turning to face the robed figure; some restoration. 5.85 kg, 44.5 cm high
Red-figure technique, with certain details highlighted in a wine-colored hue. The surface has taken on a light yellow hue throughout. Some cracks, and the varnish is chipped in some place.
German private collection (870632). Anonymous sale, Hampel Fine Arts auction, Munich, 21 September 2012, no.625. Private collection, acquired on the German art market. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Jacques Chamay. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13218-249222.
The two figurative scenes are of equal importance. The Dionysian one depicts the god, in the centre, between a satyr playing a lyre and a dancing maenad. The other scene depicts a well-known subject: the abduction of Europa. This is the daughter of Agenor, king of Tyre in Phoenicia. Of great beauty, she is desired by Zeus. He approaches her in the form of a white bull while she is playing on the beach. Initially frightened, the young woman begins to caress the animal, then becomes more daring and climbs onto its back. Zeus immediately abducts her and rushes out to sea, toward Crete. There, he will be united with Europa, who will bear him three children, including Minos.
