Greek Gold and Carnelian Necklace

A carved marble head of Hermes with densely curled hair, stern facial expression beneath a broad brow, luxuriant curled beard falling in waves and cut square at the lower edge; mounted on a custom-made display stand; a Roman copy after a 5th century B.C. Greek original. 32.2 kg total, 52 cm high including stand

Slot to top of head.

with Chaucer Fine Arts Ltd, 1980s. English private collection. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Marina Mattei and Dr Laura Maria Vigna. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11615-199747.

This type of this archaic sculpture can be traced back to the original of which many copies and variants have been preserved: the Hermes Propylaios by the Attic sculptor Alkamenes, a pupil of Phidias, active in the second half of the 5th century B.C. According to some theories, the herma was created for the Propylaea of the acropolis of Athens, as patron deity of doors and entrances; according to others, this type of bearded Hermes is not to be located at the Propylaea, but in various possible places inside the Acropolis.

An extremely large Corinthian or Attic black-figure ceramic lekanis lid with concentric bands to the rim and handle; to the tondo, a frieze of painted figures comprising a swan, a regardant lion, two opposed sphinxes, another regardant lion, another swan, a bull, a lioness and part of another bull(?); restored. 3.7 kg, 49.5 cm wide



Acquired early 1990s. Ex private American collection; thence by descent. Private Swiss collection since 1998. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11614-199000.

A penannular bronze bracelet with a facetted convex hoop, the arms tapering to an expanded bezel with raised vertical bar. 27.7 grams, 64 mm



Acquired 1990s. English private collection. Property of an Essex gentleman.