Greek Gold Earrings with Female Heads

Comprising a round pedestal supporting four small offering pots, interspersed with four female face protomes; looped handle to the centre with parallel strokes in low-relief. 623 grams, 16 cm high



From the West German collection of H.W. Acquired from the De Mynter, Belgium, in 2011. with Gorny and Mosch, Munich, 3 June 2017, no.52. Private Portuguese R.M. collection. Accompanied by a previous catalogue information slip.

The kernos can be recognised by a series of small cups on the lip, with examples dating back to the Bronze Age. It was used to store offerings made to the gods, specifically in cults pertaining to Demeter and Persephone. The receptacles probably contained foodstuffs, or perhaps flowers, and a lamp was sometimes placed in the centre. Kernoses, such as this, were often carried in processions at the Eleusinian Mysteries (secret initiation rites celebrating the goddesses Demeter and Persephone) and were an important object for Greek religious life. Kernoses are thus closely related to the agrarian cult and to the myth of Persephone and Demeter, the goddess of fertility and agriculture. The myth is recounted in an Homeric Hymn (c. 650 B.C.) according to which Persephone, Demeter’s daughter, was seized by Hades, the king of the underworld, who brought her to his kingdom to make her his wife. Distraught, Demeter caused a terrible drought, which continued until Persephone returned to her mother from the underworld. Having consumed pomegranate seeds whilst she was in the Underworld, she was only able to be with her for a few months of the year.

Attic white-ground and black-figure cylindrical lekythos; circle of the Aischines Painter; on the body an outlined figure of Nike with torch; above, a maeander, and on the shoulder two circles of rays; mouth missing, foot replaced; small hole behind the head filled up, the colour partially rubbed. 173 grams, 17 cm



From the collection of Lord Elgin (BAPD 12703). Ex Coins and Medals, Attic Red-Figure Vases, Basel, Special List N, May 1971, no.48. Ex Imhof collection, Germany. Acquired Bonhams & Brooks, London, 26 April 2001, no.37. From the C.K. private collection, Graz. with Gorny & Mosch, Munich, 30 June 2017, no.15. Property of a North London collector. Accompanied by copies of the relevant Bonhams & Brooks and Gorny & Mosch catalogue pages, and the original Bonhams & Brooks lot tag.

Once in the collection of Lord Elgin. With the corresponding pages of the M&M and Bonhams catalogues (copies).

A black and red slip-coated pottery dipper cup with a hemispherical body and a pointed conjoined handle. 199 grams, 16.2 cm wide



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.