Hellenistic Garnet Gemstone with Hercules Club and Lionskin

Comprising an ellipsoid bow with lateral knops (one absent) and applied collars, longitudinal band of applied filigree braid, knop finial with collar, perpendicular two-coil spring and long pin; footplate with incised saltire with reversed-loop finial, square catchplate with pointillé gammadion and frame. 6.86 grams, 42 mm



Private European collection, 1994, thence by descent. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

With short stem and broad bowl with carination at the shoulder; two strap handles with an ivy-leaf with tendrils and volutes underneath; the underside of the bowl with a frieze of four satyrs and four maenads performing a dance, the maenads dressed in fancy Ionian dress, long peplos and himation, and a kekrykephalos (hair net) on their heads, and holding a thyrsus in their right hands; the centre of the cup showing dancing Silenus and a nymph, dressed in a similar manner and holding a thyrsus, border of meanders and chequered squares surrounding; restored. 875 grams, 37 cm wide



Ex Dr Gonik and the late Mr Wirth, 1960-1970s. Private collection, Switzerland. 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 a search certificate number no.12573-232109. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Silenus, the only individualised satyr, was a companion and tutor to the wine god Dionysus, and he is represented here in the place of honour. He is typically older than the satyrs of the Dionysian retinue (thiasos) and his representation on the tondo symbolises respect towards his senior position.

With rosette in the gable, a basket filled with wool and a garland above it; inscription in Greek reading: 'ΥΓΕΙΑ ΑΛΥΠΕ ΧΑΙΡΕ (HEGHIA ALYPE CHAERE' (Long life [or health], free from sorrow, farewell!). 88 kg, 70.5 cm



Ex Schloss Solitude, Stuttgart, Germany, during the 19th century. with Galerie Rhéa, Zurich, Switzerland. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12657-236384. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

This type of stele is comparatively rare, and highly gendered: it is intended to represent a woman when decorated with a basket of wool, and for a man when decorated with an eagle. They are typical of the Zeugma area of the Euphrates river in ancient Seleukia.