Greek Italic Silver Fibula

The Etrusco-Italic warrior Laran (Roman Mars) modelled in the round, representing a young muscular hero with long torso and rounded shoulders, wearing a high-crested Illyrian helmet with grooved perimeter, a hole above each ear for attaching an ornament; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 326 grams total, 16.2 cm high including stand



Ex collection Koutoulakis. Ex Gorny & Mosch, Munich, 17 June 1999, lot 2051. with Sotheby's, New York, 12 June 2001, lot 16. 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.11803-206793.

The statuette assumes the position of the 'warring Mars', which characterises the numerous Etruscan and Italic statues of the god produced as votive offerings to the temples or for private lararia. The god is depicted as taking part on a military march with his left leg advancing, his raised right would have held a spear and the left hand a shield.

The elegant figure depicting the Greek god of fire and metalworking seated and nude except for the pilos on his head, lean body with naturalistic detailing, shown bearded and with curly hair emerging beneath the cap; he would have once held a pair of tongs in his left hand and a hammer in his right hand; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. 294 grams total, 13.5 cm high including stand

Fine condition, wonderful state of preservation, very rare.

with Elie Borowski, Basel. Subsequently in the collection of Denys Sutton (1917-1991), London, acquired from the above on 11 October 1963. Thence by descent. with Sotheby's, New York, 6 December 2012, lot 11. 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. 11827-207739.

According to legend, Hephaistos was thrown into the ocean by his mother Hera and raised by the sea nymph Thetis. Upon his return to Olympus, he took his revenge by imprisoning his mother and obtaining the hand of the most beautiful of the goddesses, Aphrodite. He became the blacksmith of the gods. Sculptural depictions of the god, known as Vulcan to the Romans, are very rare. Hephaistos was the armourer of the heroes, and certainly his greatest artwork was making Achilles' armour.

With piriform body, strap handle, trefoil mouth with broad pouring lip. 747 grams, 20 cm high



Ex old English collection. London art market, 1980s.