Greek Bronze Ring

With an arching strap handle and a wide spout with everted rim; ellipsoid in plan with a long flat base. 400 grams, 16 cm wide



From a late Hampshire gentleman's collection, formed from the 1960s.

The askos was an ancient Greek vessel used for pouring small quantities of oily liquids, used as an ointment container or to fill oil lamps. The modern name for this vessel is conventional; it was originally used for animal-skin wine bottles, as often seen on Dionysian-themed vase paintings, and is used in modern times to designate this vessel shape based on some morphological similarity.

Plano-convex in profile with impressed dolphin and legend. 1.05 grams, 17.71 mm



Acquired in 1994. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s.

This Phoenician terracotta bulla, decorated with a dolphin, reflects the strong maritime identity of the Phoenician world. Bullae were typically used to seal documents or goods, serving both a practical and symbolic function in trade and administration. The dolphin, a creature closely associated with the sea, would have held particular meaning for the Phoenicians, whose culture and prosperity were deeply tied to seafaring and commerce across the Mediterranean. Often seen as a symbol of protection, guidance, and safe passage, the dolphin adds an additional layer of meaning to the object, suggesting not only its use in everyday transactions but also a connection to the wider beliefs and environment of the ancient coastal world.

Discoid bezel with slender hoop, incuse profile bust with a stephane to the hair. 6.57 grams, 25.86 mm overall, 20.08 x 15.91 mm internal diameter (approximate size British N, USA 6 1/2, Europe 13.72, Japan 13)



From the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s.