Greek Terracotta Handled Lekythos

Hollow-formed and modelled in the round figure of a shaggy ram standing on a rectangular base with the slouching figure of Silenus on his back, clutching a large drinking horn in his right hand; white and red pigment; hollow underside. 257 grams, 12.2 cm



with Fortuna, Galerie fur alte Kunst, Zurich, 1998. Private collection, Zurich, acquired from the above in 2002. with Bonhams, New Bond Street, London, 1 December 2020, no.67. Private collection, UK. Accompanied by copies of the relevant Fortuna, Galerie fur alte Kunst catalogue pages. Accompanied by copies of the relevant Bonhams catalogue pages.

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.

The antefix belongs to the typical decorative scheme of alternating figures decorating the tiles at the ends of the eaves of the roof, constituting a serial decoration. It has the form of a female head, the details of which were defined through finely detailed plastic and polychrome painting, now lost. The head is crowned with a helmet, which can help identify her with the warrior goddess Athena.

Hemispherical in profile with slightly everted rim and a matt glaze, raised architectural motifs to the shoulder, dense stylised vines below; shallow rosette foot. 208 grams, 13.5 cm



From the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s.