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LOT 0107
Large Scythian Bronze Contorted Beast Mount
CIRCA 5TH-3RD CENTURY B.C.
5 1/4 in. (72 grams, 13.2 cm).
Of openwork construction with flat-section loop to the reverse; a monstrous pouncing carnivore in profile with gaping mouth, its teeth and fangs emphasised; the forelimb with powerful muscles to the shoulder; the hind leg shown rotated so that the foot connects at the rear of the shoulder; small profile beast-head beneath the rump. [No Reserve]
ProvenancePrivate collection formed in Europe in the 1980s.
Westminster collection, central London, UK.
For examples of 'twisted' animal designs, see Sadykov, T. et al., Expanding the corpus of the earliest Scythian animal-style artefacts in Antiquity, Volume 99, Issue 408, December 2025.
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AUCTIONS:
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LOT 0107
Large Scythian Bronze Contorted Beast Mount
Estimate £500 - 700€580 - 810 (for guidance only)$680 - 950 (for guidance only)
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Greek Silver Hair Ring
1st millennium B.C.Estimate: £40 - 60 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £5
Round in section with overlapping snake-head finals. 5.87 grams, 16 mm
From the private collection of a European gentleman (1942-2024), formed since the 1970s. -
Greek Bronze Patera Handle in the form of a Naked Youth
5th century B.C.Estimate: £4,000 - 6,000 (+bp*)
Opening Bid: £2,000
Formed as a nude kouros, hands raised to touch the elaborate palmette sitting atop the boy's head, his face framed by a thick fringe, his hair, held by a band, falling down his back in serpentine waves; the figure standing with legs held close together, broken at mid-shin; a palmette-shaped fixing plate projecting at the back with two holes for rivets to attach to the broad, shallow dish which would have been used for libations. 178 grams total, handle: 17.3 cm high, 23.5 cm high including stand
Private collection UK (N.E.), acquired prior to 1970, and thence by descent. Accompanied by an Art Loss Register certificate, no.S00058231 This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.13550-263433.
Anthropomorphic handles with images of young naked boys connected with animals were widespread and used for mirrors. The object, in particular, is part of the group of mirrors and paterae with standing youths (male and female, probably symbolising athletes) and nude female mirror caryatids (Mitten-Doeringer, 1968, figs.87-88) serving as vertical handles. -
Greek Gold Rosette Mount Set
Circa 500-400 B.C.Estimate: £800 - 1,000 (‡+bp*)
Opening Bid: £400
Each a cinquefoil in sheet gold with central boss and beaded wire collar, two loops to the reverse; one rosette lacking two petals; in a jewellery presentation case. 4.97 grams total, 12 mm each
Acquired from Derek Content, 6 June 1975. Private collection of Kal Noselson, New York, acquired between 1976 and the late 1990s; thence by descent. Accompanied by an original invoice from Derek Content, 6 June 1975.
