Greek Terracotta Foot-Shaped Aryballos

A bronze ladle with a deep hemispherical bowl and everted rim, long balustered handle with loop finial and bull’s head to the reverse of terminal, crowned female bust, crouching philosophers to the rim and winged sphinx between. 195 grams, 22 cm

Fine condition.

Ex central London gallery. London collection, 2000s.

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.

A carved marble head of Hermes with densely curled hair, stern facial expression beneath a broad brow, luxuriant curled beard falling in waves and cut square at the lower edge; mounted on a custom-made display stand; a Roman copy after a 5th century B.C. Greek original. 32.2 kg total, 52 cm high including stand

Slot to top of head.

with Chaucer Fine Arts Ltd, 1980s. English private collection. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Marina Mattei and Dr Laura Maria Vigna. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11615-199747.

This type of this archaic sculpture can be traced back to the original of which many copies and variants have been preserved: the Hermes Propylaios by the Attic sculptor Alkamenes, a pupil of Phidias, active in the second half of the 5th century B.C. According to some theories, the herma was created for the Propylaea of the acropolis of Athens, as patron deity of doors and entrances; according to others, this type of bearded Hermes is not to be located at the Propylaea, but in various possible places inside the Acropolis.