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LOT 0114
Greek Silver-Gilt Phiale with Petals and Lozenges
6TH-4TH CENTURY B.C.
7 1/4 in. (412 grams, 18.5 cm).
Broad lotiform bowl with flared rim, flat mesomphalos with incised rosette and gilt finish.
ProvenancePrivate collection, London, UK.
with Gorny and Mosch, 19 June 2013, no.34.
Private collection, London, UK.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13280-253528.
Cf. Mahboubian, Art of Ancient Iran: Copper and Bronze, London, 1997, no.321, p.246.
CONDITIONTimeLine Auctions follows a vetting process to ensure the authenticity and legality of all items, reinforcing our commitment to integrity and responsible trading. Each antiquity, antique, and coin lot undergoes thorough examination by a vetting committee of at least ten external specialists, professional trade association members, scientists, and archaeologists: Our Vetting Process
AUCTIONS:
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Phoenician Terracotta Bulla with a Dolphin
5th century B.C.Estimate: £120 - 170 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £67
Plano-convex in profile with impressed dolphin and legend. 1.05 grams, 17.71 mm
Acquired in 1994. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s.
This Phoenician terracotta bulla, decorated with a dolphin, reflects the strong maritime identity of the Phoenician world. Bullae were typically used to seal documents or goods, serving both a practical and symbolic function in trade and administration. The dolphin, a creature closely associated with the sea, would have held particular meaning for the Phoenicians, whose culture and prosperity were deeply tied to seafaring and commerce across the Mediterranean. Often seen as a symbol of protection, guidance, and safe passage, the dolphin adds an additional layer of meaning to the object, suggesting not only its use in everyday transactions but also a connection to the wider beliefs and environment of the ancient coastal world. -
Phrygian Bronze Bow Brooch
Iron Age, circa 6th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £46
With crescentic body decorated with raised bosses, a curved catch to one arm and remains of a coiled spring to the other. 9.29 grams, 35.7 mm
From the private collection of a European gentleman (1942-2024), formed since the 1970s. -
Greek Terracotta Head of an Actor Vase
Circa 4th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,730
An expressive polychrome vase formed as the head of an actor wearing rosette earrings, open mouth and applied pupils, short neck with everted rim above and a small strap handle to the rear. 69.3 grams, 75 mm
Ex Louis-Gabriel Bellon, France, (1819-1899). with Galerie Rhéa, Zurich, Switzerland. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12667-236389.
In Greek theatre, actors wore masks made from materials like linen and leather, which amplified expressions and helped actors take on multiple roles within a single play. Aristotle, in his Poetics, highlighted the importance of masks in conveying emotion and character, especially in large outdoor theatres. This terracotta, representing the satirical mask of a woman, with its lively and expressive features, would have brought both humour and recognisable character traits to the stage, engaging audiences with the playful spirit of Greek comedy.
