Greek Gold and Garnet Earrings

With an arching strap handle and a wide spout; either side of the body painted with a crouching panther, one playing with a ball and the other depicted facing; repaired. 149 grams, 12 cm



Acquired from Gallery Gryphos, Munich, 1992. European private collection. 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 a search certificate number no.12001-211879.

Painted askoi in different forms were produced and been in use in Athens since the middle and second quarter of the 5th century B.C., but they were also made in southern Italy. The askoi painted with a pair of animal figures were realised in Magna Graecia after the Attic continental production of similar models, with the representation of griffins, sphinxes and laconic hounds. The function of the askos as a vessel was clearly linked to wine, and therefore it is not anomalous to see it decorated with panther motifs, an animal connected with Dionysus, the god of wine and drinking.

Of gently tapering profile with pinched trefoil rim to the mouth and strap handle to the rear, painted band to the neck and ring-and-dot motifs above, chevron herringbone motif below; mouth chipped. 272 grams, 18 cm



Acquired Christie's, London, 25 April 2001, no.477 (part). From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent. Accompanied by a copy of the relevant Christie's catalogue pages.

Group of two fragmentary terracotta amphorae, one with much of the reverse absent, each with basal ring, broad shoulder and trumpet-shape mouth, two double-loop handles to the shoulder; painted horizontal bands of geometric ornamental motifs including meander, hatched lozenge, saltire, vesica and other designs; each with a domed lid. 4.3 kg total, 13 - 38.5 cm



Acquired it on the European art market since the 1970s. with Herakles Numismatik & Antiquitäten GmbH, München, Germany. Kept in the UK since the early 2000s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12311-218585.