Greek Gold Earring Pair with Rosettes

A horse and rider figure modelled in the round, standing on elongated stub legs, stout neck with stylised painted mane and coat detailing, waisted muzzle with raised almond-shaped eyes defined by painted roundels, solid colouring to the muzzle and short tail; rider represented by a torso and D-shaped head, arms reaching for the horse's neck and gripping its mane, painted detailing to the arms, hands and face. 206 grams, 15.5 cm wide

Fine condition.

London deceased estate, 1960s-1970s. Property of a Cambridgeshire, UK, gentleman. From the private collection of John Meredith, acquired since the 1990s; thence by descent.

Terracotta figurines of horse and rider were common grave offerings in Boeotia, northwest of Attica, particularly during the 6th century B.C. Representations of warriors on horseback were already diffused in the Geometric Period, and widely employed in Cyprus, in this same period. The image of our rider, although influenced by Cypriot designs, does not show typical Cypriot characteristics, and indeed his kausia cap suggests a northern Greek origin.

With carinated ribbed walls, the upper portion cylindrical, the lower ovoid, with a separately made footed base, with the foot characterised by a central horizontal groove. 695 grams, 20 cm high



Robert Haber, New York, 1992. 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.13036-248075.

Obv: head of Athena with profile eye to right, wearing disc earring, pearl necklace and a crested Attic helmet adorned with three olive leaves and a pi-style palmette. Rev: ΑΘΕ, owl standing to right, head facing the viewer, olive sprig with berry and crescent moon in upper left field, all within incuse square. Kroll 8; Dewing 1591-8; SNG Copenhagen 31; HGC 4, 1597; the coin enclosed inside a modern gold medallion pendant stamped '750' with double border. 24.36 grams, 37 mm



Roma Numismatics, E-LIVE Auction 4, 29 November 2018, no.155. Private collection of Mr K.A., France. with Kallos Gallery, London. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no. 13024-246751.

The Athenian components of several of the hoards in which these tetradrachms were found, together with other published and unpublished tetradrachms, make it clear that this coinage of c.400/390 to 353 was not only substantial, but was one of the most prolific Greek coinages of the period.