Greek Terracotta Head of a Woman

A sheet-gold bell, domed with a rolled rim and vent at the apex; decorative band above the rim with reserved lozenges on a pounced field each with an impressed dimple to the centre; crack to one side. 19.47 grams, 48 mm

Cracked

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

A matched pair of gold earrings each a hinged hoop with lateral teardrop cells set with cabochon garnets and disc cells to the apex with similar; bulbous central section with filigree and granulation detailing, cells with lapis lazuli and garnet cloisons; attached with four vertical filigree stringers to a stepped octahedral lower section with applied bosses and pearl seed-beads, granule cluster finial. 9.6 grams total, 57 mm each



Acquired in the late 1980s-early 1990s. Important North West London collection. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11609-199711.

A high-quality silver wine strainer composed of a shallow bowl and broad flange rim, two integral scalloped handles with scrolled flourishes, tapering to a loop handle with swan head terminals with incised eye and beak detailing, perforated whirl within roundel to interior base; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. 160 grams, 22.2 cm wide (526 grams total including stand)



Ex private South German collection, 1980s. with Christie's, New York, 8 June 2012, lot 86. 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.11578-198980.

Elaborate silver strainers, such as this present example, were used at symposia and festive occasions for the purpose of preventing the dregs of wine from entering the wine cup. This and other related silver utensils became popular in the later 4th and 3rd century B.C. These highly decorated wine strainers were fitted with dual handles forming loops in the shape of twisting animals, here a swan. Usually they took the form of a shallow dish complete with four rings of perforations in the centre in order to drain the wine. Strainers of this type were used to separate out sediments which could be found in the thick Greek wine. Examples similar to this one have been found in royal tombs in northern Greece, as well as the tomb of a monarch in Sudan.