Greek Bronze Ring with Standing Antelope

Comprising a square base with a raised border and supported by four stub feet, each originally surmounted by poppy-head finials (some absent); a hollow-formed figure of a banqueteer reclining elegantly with his weight resting on his left elbow, his right leg drawn up beneath the folds of a finely pleated robe; in his right hand, a ram’s head rhyton and his left hand cradling a skyphos; his bearded head with a laurel wreath. 1.58 kg, 25 cm



Private New York collection, formed in the 1960s. Acquired on the North American art market, 1990s. with Cahn Auktionen AG, Basel, Switzerland, 13 November 2015, no.84 (CHF 18,000). 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 a search certificate number no.12379-226873.

The composition reflects the iconography of elite banquet culture in the ancient world, capturing both refinement and ritual in a single expressive figure. The Greek 'συμπόσιον' 'symposium' was the later part of a formal banquet which took place after the food had been consumed, when the serving of strong drink was accompanied by music, dancing, poetic composition or recital or earnest conversation. The custom has similarities with the Roman convivium and with the customs of many Mediterranean and Western Asiatic people. The Parthian Empire was culturally diverse and included many Hellenic groups; the Arsacid court adopted a range of aspects of contemporary Greek culture, among them Greek military structures and the Greek language as a lingua franca alongside the Parthian (Iranian) language and Aramaic.

The piriform body with broad, stepped rim and two lentoid-section handles; painted palemete beneath each handle and on the neck below the mouth; Side A: red-figure frieze depicting a standing woman wearing a himation and stephane, her hands raised supporting objects, a laurel frond before her and a seated nude male with thyrsus and other items; Side B: two opposed figures standing supported by staves, each wearing a loosely draped floor-length garment; objects in the field. 1.88 kg, 43 cm



Acquired on the art market between the late 1990s and mid-2000s. Estate of the late Barry Paul Buxton (1944-2024), Oakham, Rutland. Acquired on the UK art market, 2025. Accompanied by a thermoluminescence analysis report no.N126a18 from Oxford Authentication. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.13075-248951.

The subject is standard, often representing the draped youths completely enveloped in their himatia.

With a flared foot, tapering body and two lateral high strap handles with ribs to the outer edges, the sidewall set off from the foot by a carination. 354 grams, 23 cm wide



Ex Norri collection, Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire, UK, 1980s-1990s.