Greek Terracotta Chalice with Linear Decoration

With domed foot and short stem supporting a broad bowl with carination below the rim and two lateral ledge handles; bands of painted concentric rings to the inner face in black and red, similar to the shoulder above panels of vertical stripes, arrows and other motifs; median Maltese cross to one face and bull's eye motif to the other. 685 grams, 21 cm wide



With Sotheby's London, antiquities sale, 17 May 1983, lot 132. Acquired from the above by Mr Leinonen, by descent to his son, Stan Leinonen. On loan to the Detroit Institute of Arts 6 December 1983-24 April, 2019. On view in Hallway East of Rivera Court circa 1989 and again in European Medieval and Renaissance in the 2000s.

The keeled bow with a central bulb, integral pin and large catch-plate. 29 grams, 89 mm



From the family collection of a Surrey gentleman since before 1960.

The function of the catch-plate fibulae was utilitarian and decorative, they were used for woollen clothing (Herodotus V, 87) and they have been found in houses, tombs and as votive offerings in sanctuaries. Our fibula is an early type, very often found in the graves of the Greek colonies of Southern Italy and widespread in the Magna Graecia. This typology was introduced there by the Greeks. Like all female fibulae, it functioned as a clothing fastener, usually worn as a pair on each shoulder.

Represented in the typical female attire wearing a long chiton and a polos headgear; seated upon a throne with side horns, hands upon her knees; flat back. 413 grams, 18.5 cm



Acquired in Europe before 1996.

The typical 5th century B.C. terracotta female figurine was a standing or seated woman wearing a chiton and a himation. It usually represented the goddess Demeter, and it was a votive figure offered to the shrines or temples. Attica was one of the principal centres of figurine production, but Corinth continued to produce solid standing or seated females with moulded fronts and flat backs.