Greek Geometric Bronze Bird

The body formed as a male head with his elongated neck forming the foot of the vessel; wearing an ivy-leaf crown, stylised, painted facial features and a full beard, two rows of stylised curls above the forehead; the neck of the vessel emerging from the top of his head, trefoil mouth and a handle to the rear; some repainting. 77 grams, 11.8 cm



Swiss private collection formed in 1960s-1970s. 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.13016-246780.

Head vases first appeared in the late 7th century B.C. in eastern Greece. The potters of Attica adopted this shape in the late 6th century, with a clear preference towards female heads, but not excluding male heads, especially when referring to mythological heroes or characters. The work, with its finely modelled features, is the product of an Attic workshop. According to the Beazley classification, the oinochoe should belong to the group N (Cook Class), generally dated to the 480-460 B.C. and widespread around the Mediterranean and Black Sea (a similar female example was found in Aphytis – Chalcidika).

Mould-made figure of a female upper body with tall curved and conical headdress, hair dressed in braids falling to her shoulders and flanking her breasts, arms spread and right hand curled to grip a handle or sword-hilt; beneath, a tapering mounting peg for attachment to a roof. 411 grams, 26 cm



Acquired in the mid 1980s-1990s. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s. 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.12207-222349.

The antefix belongs to the typical decorative scheme of alternating figures decorating the tiles at the ends of the eaves of the roof, constituting a serial decoration. It has the form of a female head, the details of which were defined through finely detailed plastic and polychrome painting, now lost. The head is crowned with a helmet, which can help identify her with the warrior goddess Athena.

Comprising a bulbous body with a basal ring, a narrow neck and a loop handle to the rear; vertical ribbing to the body. 74 grams, 81 mm



Acquired on the French art market. Swiss private collection. Private collection, UK.