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LOT 0060
Greek Bronze Hephaistos Statuette
CIRCA 5TH CENTURY B.C.
5 1/4 in. (294 grams total, 13.5 cm high including stand).
The elegant figure depicting the Greek god of fire and metalworking seated and nude except for the pilos on his head, lean body with naturalistic detailing, shown bearded and with curly hair emerging beneath the cap; he would have once held a pair of tongs in his left hand and a hammer in his right hand; accompanied by a custom-made display stand.
Provenancewith Elie Borowski, Basel.
Subsequently in the collection of Denys Sutton (1917-1991), London, acquired from the above on 11 October 1963.
Thence by descent.
with Sotheby's, New York, 6 December 2012, lot 11.
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. 11827-207739.
See Reinach, S., Repertoire de la statuarie grecque et romaine, Paris, 1930, pp.39-40, for the Hephaistos iconography; Hensly, C., ‘Proceed to Olympus: the iconography of the Return of Hephaestus’ in Undergraduate Research Awards. 14, Hollins, 2013, fig.5.
FootnotesAccording to legend, Hephaistos was thrown into the ocean by his mother Hera and raised by the sea nymph Thetis. Upon his return to Olympus, he took his revenge by imprisoning his mother and obtaining the hand of the most beautiful of the goddesses, Aphrodite. He became the blacksmith of the gods. Sculptural depictions of the god, known as Vulcan to the Romans, are very rare. Hephaistos was the armourer of the heroes, and certainly his greatest artwork was making Achilles' armour.
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LOT 0060
Greek Bronze Hephaistos Statuette
Estimate £20,000 - 30,000€23,200 - 34,800 (for guidance only)$27,000 - 40,500 (for guidance only)
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Greek Bronze Bow Fibula
8th-7th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £124
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. -
Greek Terracotta Protome Mask Collection
Circa 4th-3rd century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £338
Three ceramic masks each moulded with a female face, pierced at the brow. 290 grams total, 10.3-11.9 cm
Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector. London collection, 2016. -
Greek Bronze Handle with Human-Headed Ram
4th-3rd century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £234
Featuring stylised horn and tufted coat detailing, the ram's face with humanesque features; curved profile. 22.2 grams, 39 mm
Collected from 1969-1999. From the collection of the late Mr S.M., London, UK.
