Kiliya Idol Head Collection

With a folded trefoil mouth, an applied ribbed handle and basal ring, and incised concentric rings above the equator. 491 grams, 17 cm



Private collection, acquired in the late 1980s-early 1990s; thence by descent.

Throughout the 7th century BC, the Phoenician ports received goods from the East, from Cyprus, Eastern Greece, Pithecussa, and even Etruria, likely in exchange for grain, oil, and wine. Among the various archaeological finds unearthed in these ports are Attic, Corinthian, and Rhodian pottery, some of which was manufactured by the Greek colonies of the West, such as Ischia-Pithecussa.

Mixed group of items, including iridescent glass vessel fragments, a key ring, a kore statuette fragment, and others. 159 grams total, 1.6-12.8 cm



Private collection, Switzerland.

Comprising: two sheet silver phalerae, each with a facing gorgoneion motif and fragments of a third; sheet-silver roundel with a lotiform rosette motif. 14.2 grams total, 31-50 mm



Private collection formed in Europe in the 1980s. Westminster collection, central London, UK

Similar phalerae were manufactured in the Greek workshops of Olbia or the northwestern Black Sea Region, including the Bosphorus and Asia Minor. These pieces were the top decorations of domed phalerae, used by Hellenistic horsemen, Thracians and Sarmatians. They were characterised by a variety of border designs, while, although rare, some of them have the upper part decorated with a frieze of horizontally arranged floral patterns. The image of Gorgon-Medusa is very common.