Indo-Greek Terracotta Forger's Mould Group

With inverted echinus lip and tall neck, a ribbed handle to each side with coiling lotus buds and palmettes beneath the handles; Side a) a running winged Gorgon depicted frontally, dressed in a black and red chiton; Side b) an aristocratic warrior wearing a Chalcidian helmet and driving a quadriga, the two central horses superimposed, the other two turned outward; a frieze of lotus buds and a band Greek key motifs below, the neck decorated with red and black palmettes, and elongated lotus blossoms; restored. 3.25 kg, 39 cm high



Acquired in Geneva in 1954. Formerly in the Y. Forrer collection, Geneva, Switzerland. Private collection, Switzerland, 1999. with Gorny & Mosch, Munich, 20 June 2012, no.73. 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.11798-206784.

This wonderful vase can be attributed to the Swing Painter, active in Athens during the last part of the 6th century B.C. Beazley named him after the subject of a girl on a swing that he painted more than once. He was a pot painter, perhaps a pupil of the Princeton Painter. His black-figure paintings included a range of mythological subjects and some quite unusual images. A very large number of vases have been attributed to his hand on the basis of style. Characteristic of his paintings are contemporary touches, such as the presence of hoplites, in mythological scenes (München, Staatliche Antikensammlungen 1385 [J 729], Beazley Archive Pottery Database 301590; Poseidon fighting the giant Polybotes, Louvre F226). An important artwork is the famous representation of the Tyrant Pysistratos and his Rabdophoroi (bodyguards armed with clubs, Athens National Archaeological Museum 15111, Beazley Archive Pottery Database 301523).

Modelled in the half-round on a tongue-shaped plaque, with right hand in the folds of the robe and left hand holding the hem; mounted on a custom-made stand. 155 grams total, 13.7 cm including stand



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.

With small flared foot, broad body and rounded shoulder, everted rim and two loop handles to the shoulder; painted bands of linear ornament. 280 grams, 15 cm



Acquired from Gallery Gryphos, Munich, 2000s. European private collection.

Deposits from Mycenae, Korakou and Nichoria are relatively rich in painted jugs, small stirrup and piriform jars. The pattern usually employed on piriform jars preserves a rim decoration of short strokes, neck being solidly painted. Following an usual syntax, a line group appears on the upper shoulder below the neck. Bases are solidly painted, except for an occasional thin reserved area on the lower base edge.