Greek Bronze Ring with Dog

Depicting a ‘genius’ making a sacrifice, his head surrounded by a radiate crown or a wreath of laurel leaves arranged in rays; bare-chested with a cloak (tebenna) falling over his left shoulder, covering his back and resting on his left arm, enveloping his legs to below the knee; holding a patera in his right hand and an acerra in his left; accompanied by a display stand. 189 grams, 12.1 cm (367 grams total, 13.4 cm high including)



Anne Betgoner, Paris, by descent. French private collection, acquired in the early 20th century. Acquired from the above by the present owner. Private collection, UK. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.13235-251199.

The figure represents a genius dressed as a priest according to the Etruscan tradition. He is celebrating a sacrifice by offering to the gods with a patera of precious liquids and perfumes, kept in the acerra or pyxis. Acerra was the name given to the casket in which the incense intended for sacrifices was placed (arcula turalis). A servant carried it to the altar, and the granules from the casket were scattered on the flames (acerra libare).

Squat vessel with rounded foot and carination with band of tendrils, flared sidewall with carination and rim, broad watchglass lid with central knop handle; blackware frieze to the sidewall, chariot with four horses and attendants carrying spears and dressed in chitons and himatia, among them a noblewoman dressed in a long chiton and chlamys; lid with frieze of profile figures seated on folding chairs with attendants and petitioners, and two women in long robes within a band of coiled tendrils; repaired and restored. 1.05 kg, 22.5 cm wide



Private collection, Mrs Lambelet, Neuchâtel, Switzerland, acquired before 1972; thence by descent. Private collection N.S., acquired in 2012. 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.13223-249242.

Many Athenian vases depict a quadriga, often in racing or military scenes, but in this case, the depicted scene is peaceful and could be linked to a wedding. The painting can be divided into two scenes: the first, on the sides, is the bridal procession, where the bride is conducted on the chariot which will bring her to the groom, accompanied by her father and relatives; the second, the lid painting, where the nuptial feast is prepared, and the conversing guests are waiting for the bride.

Comprising an ellipsoid panel mounted on a conical socket; openwork lattice design with lozenge voids; socket with horse-head to one face, lateral lugs above the mouth. 570 grams, 24.6 cm



Private European collection, 1990s. Private collection, London, UK. 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.13278-254311.

Bronze pole tops, together with mirrors and horse trappings, were characteristic of Scythian art. Usually, Scythian warrior burials were accompanied by horses, the number of which corresponded to the status of the deceased (Galanina, 1997, p.54, fig.16). In the famous Chrertomlyk barrow, together with a deposit of 250 bridles, several openwork pole-tops were found, with figures of animals and birds, which could have been mounts for the harness or top of standards. However, they could also have been the upper part of staff poles decorating funeral wagons. Pole tops are one of the most significant objects used by the Scythians, and formed part of the ritual furnishings.