Hellenistic Gold in Glass Bead Group

Cylindrical with stepped foot, five palmettes above the shoulder, dynamic frieze of two men visiting two hetairai, each of the figures dressed in long pleated garments, at the centre of the scene, a hetaira on the right reaching towards the bearded male and gently touching his chin with her open hand, a tall draped table behind her with an amphora underneath and a standing bird on the top. 459 grams, 26.4 cm



H.A.C. (Herbert A. Cahn), 19 October 1979. Private collection, Bern, Switzerland. Accompanied by an original thermoluminescence analysis report no.N125q45 by Oxford Authentication. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12644-236376.

The Athena Painter is known as the painter who designed several Greek black-figure pottery works using the 5th-century BC white-ground technique. He specialized in lekythoi and refers to Athena as his main subject in his works. Together with the Theseus Painter, they continued the tradition of painting large lekythoi. His black figures are of high quality, and in addition to lekythoi, he decorated other potteries such as oenochoai. Some archaeologists say that he may have been the same person as the Bowdoin Painter of red-figure pottery, although they may have just worked in the same workshop.

Pear-shaped body with rounded base, raised circumferential hoop at the neck and everted rim; applied high, ribbed handle with an engraved palmette at the base; accompanied by a stand. 145 grams, 12.5 cm (250 grams total, 15 cm including stand)



Private collection Dr L.M., Zurich, Switzerland. with Galerie Rhéa, Zurich, Switzerland.

Discoid in plan and biconvex in section with trumpet-shaped spout and loop to each shoulder; radiating fronds to tondo on each face. 278 grams, 14.1 cm



Ex London, UK gallery, 1971-early 2000s. Private collection, London, UK.