Greek Terracotta Boar Statuette

A terracotta kylix with broad flat foot, short stem, broad bowl with carination at the shoulder, glared mouth and two square strap handles; frieze of black-painted decoration including two scenes of a chariot yoked to two centaurs, one with sgraffito markings, between palmettes; restored. 566 grams, 25.5 cm wide

Restored.; fine condition, repaired.

Cambridgeshire collection, 1990s-2000s. Ex property of a Sussex gentleman. Accompanied by an academic report by 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.11579-198944.

These Attic kylikes were usually presented with a stemmed base, a deep bowl and twin, upturned loop handles, all upon a concave base. The exterior walls were decorated with black-figure technique on red background, here in a style remarkably similar to that of the Haimon Painter, especially in the rendering of facial features, and feet. The imagery on the exterior of these kylikes, used in the symposia, varied a lot. Just as the cup could be a mask (in the so-called typology of the Attic black-figure eye cups) to transform the drinker, to give a “complex painted character”. Daily life scenes, or fantasies like the chariot here pulled by centaurs, were among the various subjects.

A terracotta idol formed with pinched stub arms and a pinched head crowned with a headpiece; remains of geometric detailing in painted pigment; repaired. 122 grams, 16.5 cm



Acquired early 1990s. Ex private American collection; thence by descent. Private Swiss collection since 1998.

A spectacular bronze hydria composed of a tapering body, broad shoulder and waisted neck, the everted rim decorated with egg-and-dart motifs, three round-section handles and tiered, ogival foot; professionally restored. 4.7 kg, 39.5 cm

Fine condition, professionally restored. A spectacular display piece.

Acquired circa 1989-1990. Private collection of N.A., Niedersachsen. Accompanied by an original French cultural passport number 226773 dated 3 June 2021. 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 no.11306-190969.

Whilst such vessels were originally produced for holding water, hydriai were often re-purposed. From the 5th century B.C. onwards, they also had a funerary function, used in the cult of the dead and the underworld. Appearing as grave deposits, they were sometimes used as funerary urns, receptacles for the ashes of the deceased (see the MET hydria from Galaxidi, found with the bones still inside). Hydriai were also commonly associated with rituals relating to the cults of the gods. They have been found in temples and public buildings and have been recorded as prizes in athletic games. It has also been suggested that the more lavish examples were gifted to brides.