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LOT 0096
Hellenistic Terracotta Head of a Youth
3RD CENTURY B.C.
9 1/4 in. (1.40 kg total, 23.5 cm high including stand).
Tousled curly hair, strong aquiline nose and full mouth; the deep eyes marked by raised eyelids and prominent semi-circular eyebrows; the hair arranged in overlapping rows of locks; repaired; mounted on a later porphyry plinth.
ProvenanceFrom the estates of the late Adrian Stanford and Norman St John-Stevas, Baron St John of Fawsley.
with the previous owner since 1982.
with Christie's, London, South Kensington, 22 February 2017, lot 10.
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.11774-204595.
Cf. Moreno, P., ‘L’immagine di Alessandro Magno nell’opera di Lisippo e di altri artisti’ in Alexander the Great, 1993, pp.101-136; Moreno, P. (ed.), Lisippo, l’arte e la fortuna, catalogo della mostra, Roma-Milano, 1995; Alfano, C. (ed.), Alessandro Magno, Storia e Mito, Martellago, 1995; L Frumusa, G., ‘Alessandro Magno, Eracle e la Leonté nella Glittica Ellenistica e Romana’ in LANX, 3, December 2009, pp.13-35; cf. also portrait of Alexander the Great in the Athens Archaeological Museum in Bieber, M., Alexander the Great in Greek and Roman Art, 1964, p.52, fig.37, pl.XX.
FootnotesThe head represents a Hellenistic portrait of a young man, whose characteristics seem to suggest a reference to a youthful portrait of Alexander the Great. Another possibility is that it represents the portrait of Alexander’s companion, Hephaestion.
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Cypriot Bichrome Ware Terracotta Horse Model
Circa 850-750 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £611
Modelled in the round, detailed in black and crimson. 168 grams, 13 cm high
Lt. Col. H.A. Hill, R.A.M.C. while stationed in Cyprus as S.M.O in the 1920s, thence by descent. -
Eastern Mediterranean Painted Pottery Bowl with Handles
8th century B.C.Estimate: £600 - 800 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £300
Conical in form with rounded shoulder, everted rim and two round-section handles; painted with concentric bands around the inner and outer faces. 243 grams, 15.5 cm wide
Acquired in Europe before 1992. European collection. -
Greek Archaic Laconian Black-Figure Kylix Fragment Group Attributed to the Rider Painter
550-540 B.C.Estimate: £4,000 - 6,000 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £1,667
Comprising six fragments from a bowl once decorated with concentric circles around a central disc with expanding black rays, remains of palmette to the sides of the handle; the internal base with two facing warriors holding spears and a wreath, the older one depicted with a beard. 67 grams total, 34-89 mm
Acquired in Europe before 1990. Private collection, Europe. 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.11820-206481.
The Rider Painter was a Laconian vase painter active between 560 and 530 B.C. and is considered to be one of the five great vase painters of Sparta. He painted various forms predominantly kylikes but also lebetes, a form rare in this area. He mainly painted scenes from mythology, such as figures like Cadmos or Heracles, and tales such as the blinding of Polyphemus. In addition, he realised pictures from everyday life. The attribution of these fragments to his workmanship can be supported by the motifs painted on the exterior decoration of the vessel, and by the shape of the birds and figures. The illustrated scene is fitting within the warrior society of Spartan Laconia.