Greek Gold Funerary Decoration Group

A ceramic columnar stand with trumpet-shaped base, carinated balusters and broad upper face with dished centre; painted with running wave patterns to the baluster, base and top, the centre with a rosette; the base with the profile head of a lady of fashion with the earrings, necklace and diadem picked out in white. 847 grams, 25 cm high



French collection, 1990s-early 2000s. Ex Hampel Auctions, Munich, Germany, 1990s.

A terracotta amphora composed of a squat bulbous body and rounded shoulder, waisted neck, integral loop handles and integral foot, decorated with scrolling S-motifs, clusters of dots and combed chevrons. 145 grams, 10.5 cm wide



Ex collection of P. Linders, Herrliberg, Zurich, Switzerland. with Galleria Serodine SA, Ascona, Switzerland, 12 November 2008.

A red-figure terracotta bell-krater displaying polychrome figural panels between a laurel wreath and a band of Greek key motifs; side a) two robed male figures holding staffs, wearing a taenia or a band around the head, standing facing a central altar; side b) a woman wearing a chiton and holding a casket and olive sprig in her outstretched hands, advancing right towards a nude man standing right, his head turned towards her, holding a bucket and olive sprig, a cloak draped over his arm, elaborate volute palmettes beneath both handles; restored. 4 kg, 41 cm wide



Private collection, Neuchâtel, Switzerland. Ex collection H.& P. Payot, Clarens, by descent. Accompanied by an original thermoluminescence analysis report no.QED2237/SG-0201 from QED Laboratoire. 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.11580-199029.

Wide-mouthed bell kraters like this one were specifically designed for holding large quantities of liquid and to work as mixing bowls, as it was considered barbaric for wine to be drunk neat (a privilege only enjoyed by Dionysus and his entourage who could handle such a level of intoxication). Wine would be mixed with water, usually one part to three, or even more, as described by Homer regarding the wine offered to the giant Polyphemus (Odyssey, IX, 206-211). As such, kraters provided an ideal large surface area for decoration, and as wine was of utmost importance at the symposium, kraters would usually take centre place, and the decoration of such vessels were geared towards such gatherings attempting to provide subject matter for philosophical debate, like the ones described in Athenaeus’ Deipnosophistae.