Greek Garnet Gemstone with Bust

With flared foot, ovoid body, tapering neck and scooped trefoil mouth; tall gusseted strap handle to the rear; painted frieze of a phalanx of hoplites wearing crested helmets and bell-shaped armour with round aspis and eight-shaped (Boeotian) shields, knemidai greaves, long spears and scabbarded swords. 487 grams, 23.2 cm



Private Swiss collection, 1980s. Acquired on the European art market, 1992; thence by descent. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Jacques Chamay. 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 no.13220-249241.

The scene depicts a succession of warriors, marching to the left at a rapid pace. Closely packed, one behind the other, they are confined within the figurative field and extend well beyond the upper and lower edges. It is a scene taken from the Homeric poems. The style of the oinochoe is characterised by the abundant use of thick white and burgundy highlights, resulting in a striking polychrome effect. There is a tendency to extend the figures beyond the frame, due to the subject being too ambitious for the available surface. The chequerboard motif on the neck is a very rare decorative motif. The vase's importance is reinforced by its exceptional state of preservation.

The nude hero depicted with a slender yet muscular body, the right arm angled and raised, the pierced hand probably once held a club, the left leg thrust forward energetically, lowering the hip line and emphasising the dynamic movement of the composition, the navel indicated by an engraved circular line, the knees marked by vertical incisions; the oval face characterised by eyes represented by triangular depressions, a narrow nose, a wide mouth whose slightly irregularly shaped lips separated by an incision, and a pointed chin; the short, cap-like hair detailed with fine incisions. 146 grams total, 12.6 cm high including stand



Ex Erika (1934-2025) and Jakob (1927-2025) Binkert, Binningen, Switzerland; inherited from Jakob's father, August Binkert-Textor (1896-1979), between 1940-1970, Basel. with Jean-David Cahn AG, Basel, Auction 2, 26 June 2000, no.239B; thence by descent.

Votive bronze from a Sabellian workshop in the typical local style. The Sabelli lived in the Samnium region (southern Apennines), where the cult of Heracles, as in Etruria, was widespread.

Matched pair of penannular bracelets with round-section bodies and polygonal finials, hatched decoration above the finials. 174 grams total, 86-89 mm



with a London, UK gallery 1971-early 2000s.