Greek Tarentine Jug in the Shape of a Dolphin

A hammered, chased and soldered silver-gilt cup with central medallion of Nike in high-relief; the bowl formed as a truncated cone with a shallow foot comprising an irregular circular 'ropework' border enclosing a floral motif, or double rosette; the bust of Nike showing the goddess draped in a goat skin with knot and ungulate leg with hoof at right shoulder, wings spread, hair dressed in curls, torc at neck, gazing left; face with almond-shaped eyes, straight nose and full, closed lips; with the exception of the face, all elements of the central medallion were originally gilt; housed in a custom-made velvet-lined box. 96.8 grams, 12.6 cm wide



Private collection, Mainz, Germany, 1980s. Acquired by the current owner from the above, 2006. Accompanied by a copy of a seven page examination report number 114/2019 by Dr Habil Mikhail Treister. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12764-237139. 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.

Nike was the winged goddess of victory. Goat-skin clothing was an attribute of Artemis, but here it is worn by Nike, attesting to the syncretic nature of the art embodied by this object. The workmanship of this piece suggests a local workshop in the Kuban basin.

Mould-made figure of a female upper body with tall curved and conical headdress, hair dressed in braids falling to her shoulders and flanking her breasts, arms spread and right hand curled to grip a handle or sword-hilt; beneath, a tapering mounting peg for attachment to a roof. 411 grams, 26 cm



Acquired in the mid 1980s-1990s. Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent. Private collection, since the late 1990s. 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.12207-222349. 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.

With black-glazed body and matching lid decorated with two heads of ladies of fashion, palmettes between, radial lines on the knob handle and a wave-band around the rim; square strap handles at the shoulder. 249 grams, 16.5 cm wide



From the private collection of a Canadian gentleman living in Essex, UK, formed since the 1920s-circa 1990. Property of an Essex lady until the late 1990s; thence by descent. From the private collection of an Essex gentleman since the late 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.