Hellenistic Gold Earring Pair with Nude Figures

Piriform carnelian centre with gold fittings, filigree loop handles. 3.64 grams, 30 mm



Acquired from the collection of Mrs L.G., an Italian noblewoman. European private collection. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

With flared mouth, wide neck, bulbous body and ring foot, painted in brown and red matte glaze; geometric pattern spread over several registers separated by bundles of encircling stripes, triangles with hatching inside them, neck with metopes containing swastikas, rosettes and rhombuses with a band of rhombuses beneath; the shoulder with five line friezes arranged one above the other; the body decorated with meander and a band of rhombuses and triangles with hatching below, a broad black stripe (in places reddish as a result of misfiring) to the lower part; transition to the ring foot and ring foot painted black; wide strap handle attached to the shoulder and painted on the outside with a wavy line framed by dots, edge stripes and three small stars, the connecting bar patterned with stripes; museum-quality restoration. 2.04 kg, 35.5 cm



Ex Madame P., Paris. 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.12460-228686. 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.

Vessels of the Geometric period (900-700 BCE) are easily recognisable by their abstract decorative designs, which had their origin in woven textiles and baskets. While early period pottery typically has sparse geometric motifs on a black background, the amount of the decoration increased progressively to the point that objects from the late Geometric period are often entirely covered - in this example, even the strap handle.

Ovoid shape with short neck and expanded flat rim, lugs on the sides; painted with daily life scenes: one side with an older man holding a crozier, dressed in chiton and himation, the other side with a younger bearded man holding a short staff, dressed in a similar way; meander pattern above and a dotted band below; some restoration. 125 grams, 13.6 cm



with Hirsch Auction, 23 September 2006, no.666. 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.12463-228723. Accompanied by thermoluminescence analysis report no.06280606 by Laboratory Kotalla. 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.

The men depicted on this vessel are each holding an elegant walking stick appropriate to Athenian citizens. They both seem to be in a drunken rage, and seemingly have just left a drinking party: the consequences of immoderate drinking were a favourite subject for vessel decorations.