Greek Black-Ware Dish with Shell Decoration

Possibly depicting Ganymede or Paris, wearing a soft Phrygian cap with everted brim, the hair swept back from the face; almond-shaped eyes with pronounced eyelids, straight nose and fleshy lips; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 1.2 kg total, 25.3 cm high including stand



Acquired early 20th century. From the collection of Count Henri d'Epinay (1940-2017), Longuenesse, France. Accompanied by a copy of a French cultural passport no.196149. 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.11824-207736.

The terracotta sculpture appears to have similarities with other Tarentine heads from the early Hellenistic Period. A marble head from Taranto, datable to the end of the 4th century B.C., presents similar elements. The visible character is clearly attributable to Graeco-Roman mythology. The only clue regarding the identity of the head is provided by the Phrygian cap, which narrows down the identification to few characters from Greek mythology: the Trojan prince Ganymede, abducted by Zeus for his beauty and named by him the cupbearer of the gods, or the Trojan prince Paris. There are many representations of Ganymede in a Phrygian cap (Hakanen, 2022, plates 6,12a). However, the third possibility is that the sculpture represents Attis, lover of the goddess Cybele.

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 composed of a slender wire hoop and a winged Eros plaque with detailing to the body, face and hair; closure loop to reverse. 3.24 grams total, 21 mm each



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.