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LOT 0032
Greek Black-Figure Lekythos with Horses and Fighting Warriors
ATHENS, 550-500 B.C.
9 1/4 in. (472 grams, 23.5 cm).
Cylindrical with echinus mouth and stepped torus foot, on the body a dynamic scene consisting of four rearing horses, side-by-side and wearing harnesses, nestled between the horses a standing warrior wearing a crested helmet, behind the horses an advancing warrior wearing a plumed helmet, holding a long spear in his raised hand a round shield in the other; before the horses a fleeing opponent in a running pose, facing back and holding a spear in one hand while protecting himself with a shield held in the other; long tongue motifs on the shoulder; restored.
ProvenanceEx Bonhams, Knightsbridge, London, 1990s.
Private collection, Suffolk.
Cf. for similar lekhitoi Madigan, B., Corinthian and Attic Vases in the Detroit Institute of Art, Geometric, Black-Figure, and red-figure, Leiden-Boston, 2008, figs.58-77 for the type, especially 61-62.
FootnotesThe scene depicts a battle between hoplites, possibly an episode from the Iliad. Originally, one or two of the combatants were positioned on a chariot; four horses from it remain visible. The scene may represent the wounding of Ares, the god of war, as he is pursued by Diomedes and accompanied by the goddess Pallas, whose helmet is emerging from behind the horses.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0032
Greek Black-Figure Lekythos with Horses and Fighting Warriors
Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,900
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Greek Black-Figure Alabastron with Fighting Warriors
Attic, 500-480 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £13,000
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. 262 grams total, 16 cm high including stand
Louis-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.
The 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. -
Graeco-Roman Bronze Ring with Bust of Athena
Circa 1st century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £234
D-section hoop with stepped rims and trefoil shoulders, cuboid bezel with incuse profile bust of Athena to the upper face. 10.19 grams, 27.01 mm overall, 17.71 mm internal diameter (approximate size British O 1/2, USA 7 1/4, Europe 15.61, Japan 15)
Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman. -
Greek Silver Belt Hanger with Decorated Terminals
5th-3rd century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £33
U-shaped body with hooked terminals with filigree decoration. 17 grams, 50 mm
Acquired on UK art market. Property of a Middlesex gentleman.
