Greek Geometric Miniature Bronze Vessel with Cross

Modelled wearing a floor-length garment and conival helmet; right arm supporting a large lenticular shield. 166 grams, 14 cm



From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.

With broad flat foot and short stem, broad bowl with carination at the shoulder and two strap shoulders; under each handle an ivy leaf; a painted frieze in coarse style on the outer face comprising two scenes of satyrs and maenads, some on horseback; the centre with a winged Pegasus; foot restored. 368 grams, 27 cm wide

Fine condition, foot restored.

From a private German collection, 1960s. 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.12014-213567.

The kylix is pertinent to the style of the Haimon painter, who flourished in the first half of 5th century B.C., especially in the rendering of the facial features, and feet. The imagery on the exterior of kylikes used in the symposia varied a lot.

Of square shape, used for making various jewellery elements: small circles, ear-drop pendants, rosettes with striated lines and locating holes on the surface. 114 grams, 63 mm



Collected from 1969-1999. From the collection of the late Mr S.M., London, UK.

Plaques of this type were half of a mould for small objects such as ribbed bobbin-shaped or spherical beads or crescent-shaped pendants. They must have been made for casting, judging by the pouring channels and the circular holes for fixing it to another corresponding half. Ribbed globular and ‘grain of wheat’ gold beads were common in Cyprus and Crete. Similar moulds with pouring channels have been found in the Near East, while open moulds intended for glass ornaments with flat backs have been found in the Aegean.