Hellenistic Terracotta Water-Carrier Figure

With a small, stylised face with detailed eyes, nose and mouth; right hand raised to hold a child; wearing a flounced skirt with double belt; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 499 grams total, 16.5 cm high including stand



British private collection, acquired by 2000. From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent.

In the Dictean Cave in Greece, many votive statuettes of this type were found. The flounced skirt is characteristic of Minoan women's dress, and it was lavishly decorated in folds of different colours. It could be worn with or without a narrow corselet, but in both cases exposing the breast. The exposed breast was connected to the cult of the mother goddess, and fertility, an element here reinforced by the presence of the suckling child.

Tapering round-section votive with reserved zigzag bands of dense linear hatching; remains of an old base including label. 70 grams total, 14 cm high including stand



From the celebrated personal collection of art formed by the famous anthropologist, artist, and television presenter Desmond Morris. with Christie’s, South Kensington, 14 May 2002, no.19 (part). From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent. Accompanied by copies of the relevant Christie's catalogue pages.

Rounded in form with pinched and impressed facial detailing, ridge to the shoulders and rump, hollow to the underside; remains of a very old label to one side. 236 grams, 10.4 cm



From the property of Mr O.S., a late Suffolk, UK, gentleman, who acquired at auction from the 1960s.