Greek Black-Glazed Lekythos

D-shaped ceramic panel with detailing moulding of a female bust with styled hair and soft facial features. 89 grams, 10.9 cm



Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector. London collection, 2016.

The keeled bow with a central bulb, integral pin and large catch-plate. 29 grams, 89 mm



From the family collection of a Surrey gentleman since before 1960.

The function of the catch-plate fibulae was utilitarian and decorative, they were used for woollen clothing (Herodotus V, 87) and they have been found in houses, tombs and as votive offerings in sanctuaries. Our fibula is an early type, very often found in the graves of the Greek colonies of Southern Italy and widespread in the Magna Graecia. This typology was introduced there by the Greeks. Like all female fibulae, it functioned as a clothing fastener, usually worn as a pair on each shoulder.

The piriform body with broad, stepped rim and two round-section handles; red-figure frieze depicting two standing women facing, wearing a himation and stephane; the other side with a nude standing warrior wearing an Apulo-Corinthian helmet, holding the reins of his horse, acanthus leaves, ovolo and wave motifs to the neck and lower body; probably from a Cuma workshop. 1.55 kg, 40.2 cm high



Ex private collection Mr S., Geneva, by inheritance. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D’Amato. Accompanied by an original thermoluminescence analysis report no.N123k3 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.11784-206515.

The illustration of the horse is noteworthy: contemporary descriptions speak about the Sicilian horses as 'generous, swift and with firm foot' (Aeneid III, 704). The Oscan poet Lucilius of the 2nd century B.C. quotes the Campanian chargers as ‘fiery and brave although not very fine in their look’. The artistic evidence, like here, depicts well-built horses with fine legs suitable for middle-light cavalry.