Greek Inscribed Lead Amulet

Bulbous head with stylised owl-like facial features, large applied pupils and ear; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 96 grams total, 46 mm (65 mm high including stand)



Acquired from Vanessa Purcell & Company, Manchester, UK, in 1993. From the collection of Mr & Mrs J.G.W. Lee, late Herefordshire collectors, their collection having been established from the 1990s. Accompanied by an original sales receipt.

With mammiform body, pedestal base and two loop handles; each side with a facing image of an owl between laurel fronds. 239 grams, 17.5 cm



Swiss private collection, assembled in the 1960s-1970s. Private collection, acquired in 2013. Accompanied by a thermoluminescence analysis report no.N126a14 from Oxford Authentication. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12854-241751.

Bubo was the holy beloved magical owl of the goddess Athena, and it was a common subject on Greek painted ceramics. The owl-skyphos, originally produced in 5th century Athens, was extremely popular and was exported from Athens to other parts of the Greek world, including southern Italy and Etruria. Local imitations have been excavated at Corinth, and during the fourth century, or perhaps even slightly earlier, skyphoi similar to those from Athens were produced in Apulia and Etruria.

With biconical bulbous body and pontil base, flared mouth with carinated rim, strap handle the shoulder. 780 grams, 17 cm



Acquired by the vendor's father on the UK art market before 1990. Acquired on the UK art market.