Greek Bronze Bow Brooch

Tongue-shaped in plan and hollow to the reverse, female bust in high-relief with palla head-covering; pierced for attachment. 107 grams, 99 mm



Private collection Ebnöther, Switzerland, before 2001. Accompanied by a copy of an Art Loss Register certificate no.S00121356. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

Modelled in the half-round as a maenad or Artemis, hollow to the reverse with diadem of ivy leaves with clusters of berries at the centre, exaggerated lentoid eyes, peplos dress secured at her left shoulder by a disc brooch and at her right with a cloven hoof. 541 grams, 14 cm



Acquired before 1983. Ex London gallery, 1990s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12519-231946. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

The Greek deity Artemis was the goddess of hunting, associated with wild animals and woodland as well as childbirth. She was often linked with folk magic and witchcraft due to her role as goddess of the moon. She was identified by the Romans with the goddess Diana. Artemis was born, with her twin brother Apollo, on the island of Delos, daughter of Zeus and Leto. Homer refers to her as Artemis Agrotera, Potnia Theron: "Artemis of the wildland, Mistress of Animals". Her best-known cult sites were on the island of Delos, in Attica at Brauron and Mounikhia, and in Sparta. She was often depicted in paintings and statues in a forest setting, carrying a bow and arrows, and accompanied by a deer. In Greek classical art, she is usually portrayed as a maiden huntress: young, tall and slim, clothed in a girl's short skirt, with hunting boots, a quiver, a bow and arrows. When portrayed as a moon goddess, Artemis wore a long robe and sometimes a veil covering her head. Her darker side is revealed in some vase paintings, where she is shown as the death-bringing goddess whose arrows fell young maidens and women, such as the daughters of Niobe. Artemis was also identified with the ancient mother goddess at Ephesus in modern-day Turkey and it was there that a huge temple was built in her honour, long recognised as one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

Modelled in the round standing erect with right hand on his hip and left arm extending from the elbow resting on the left hip and with fingers curled to hold a staff or handle, wearing a loosely draped cloth over the left shoulder and drawn around the body to hang over the arms; ribbed cuffs to the boots; youthful face with tousled hair and slightly exaggerated lentoid eyes; C-shaped staple beneath the feet for attachment; supplied with a custom-made display stand. 506 grams total, 18.7 cm including stand



with Sotheby’s, Antiquities, London, 6 July 1995, no.130. Acquired by the present owner at the above sale. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12194-222321. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

The statue was probably a cult offering and presents an archaic Etruscan hairstyle, being part of the Italic statuettes produced as votive offering to the temples or for private lararia. His warrior status can be confirmed by his boots, typical of Etruscan and Latin warriors of archaic times.