Greek Silver Pinhead Terminal

Standing on a rectangular base, hair divided in regular stripes with voluminous locks, head slightly bowed, the bare arm resting on her right hip; the left leg is visible under the pleated undergarment chiton and slanted himation. 257 grams, 17.5 cm

Traces of white engobe and polychromy in the folds of the robe and on the base. The added chignon lost, otherwise intact.

Ex Belgian art market, 2020. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

The statuette finds comparisons among examples that can be dated between the 4th century and the middle of the 3rd century B.C. It shows some traces of the original polychromy, characterised by strongly contrasting hues, keeping in with the local style.

Comprising the upper two thirds of the vessel; on the shoulder a facing woman's head with diadem and half-veiled face; rosettes to left and right, with suspended ribbons and dots; vine motif around the body with floral ornaments; to the reverse, palmettes and vines; band of laurel with rosettes around the neck and wavy band at the mouth; reassembled from various fragments with three large areas of restoration, only the beginnings of the handles preserved; mounted on a custom-made stand. 1.95 kg, 31 cm (2.6 kg total, 47.5 cm high including stand)



Ex Herbert A. Cahn, Basel, 1990s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12475-228738. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

The face-veiling gesture is a known marriage rite; the diadem may suggest that she is intended to represent Persephone. Alternatively, the veiled woman might be a dancer as many terracotta figurines of dancing women are shown with face-coverings. However, the floral ornaments could indicate a funeral or sepulchral context.

Domed stud with facial detailing, radiating ribbed hair, pellet eyes, transverse ribbed moustache, rivet to reverse; loop below with attached pendant disc. 14.57 grams, 61 mm



Acquired before the early 1970s. Ex London, UK, gallery. Property of a London gentleman. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.