Greek Black-Glazed Plate

Bulbous-bodied with dished rim ad short strap handle, decorative painted trail to the lip, spots to the shoulder and incised cross-hatching to the lower body; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. 104 grams, 63 mm (149 grams total, 82 mm high including stand)



Ex Swiss private collection, C.A., Geneva (1961-2000). Thence in a French collection. with Charles Ede Limited, catalogue 183, item number 31, 2011. Accompanied by a copy of French cultural passport number 116789, dated 15 April 2010. Accompanied by a copy of an Art Loss Register certificate no.S00048851, dated 3 June 2011.

Each modelled in the round and and derived from a larger female figure, some wearing diadems and some with draped heads; each mounted on a custom-made display base. 491 grams total, 9.5-13.5 cm high including stand



Acquired in the 1970s. Ex European private collection. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11795-206534.

These figurines reflect sculptural prototypes. Interestingly the head of one of the women is draped in a himation, and the head is turned slightly to the right like the terracotta of Amisos which represents a dancer. These figurines were most probably manufactured in Hellenistic cities by craftsmen who used either light yellow or dark brown clay. After the firing, the surface of the clay became reddish, while the core became grey-brown. The majority of the figurines were made from untreated clay with many impurities, such as coarse grain. Due to the quality of the clay the surface of the figurines was often rugged, despite the retouch, but were painted with vivid colours, as is still visible on the pink polos on one of the heads.

Tousled curly hair, strong aquiline nose and full mouth; the deep eyes marked by raised eyelids and prominent semi-circular eyebrows; the hair arranged in overlapping rows of locks; repaired; mounted on a later porphyry plinth. 1.40 kg total, 23.5 cm high including stand



From the estates of the late Adrian Stanford and Norman St John-Stevas, Baron St John of Fawsley. with the previous owner since 1982. with Christie's, London, South Kensington, 22 February 2017, lot 10. 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.11774-204595.

The head represents a Hellenistic portrait of a young man, whose characteristics seem to suggest a reference to a youthful portrait of Alexander the Great. Another possibility is that it represents the portrait of Alexander’s companion, Hephaestion.