Minoan Stone Bead Seal

Discoid body with raised rim; ribbed column-like handle with a kneeling stag above, supporting the mirror with its large antlers. 570 grams, 31.5 cm



Mr M.B., Mainz, Germany, since the 1960s. Acquired from the above, 2007. Private collection, London. 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 no.12182-221464.

Bronze mirrors of this type with zoomorphic handles, were widespread in the Scythian archaeology of the Northern Black Sea Region, Northern Caucasus and Carpathian Basin. Handles were often decorated with sculptured depictions of rams, feline predators or deer (stag). The similarity with Scythian art is clearly visible by comparing the stag of our mirror with the stags from the Scythian steppe culture (Loehr, 1955, figs.5,6,10,13-21).

The ovoid body decorated with cross-hatching, solid band to the shoulder and vertical bands to the slender neck, trumpet-shaped mouth, strap handle and discoid foot; repaired. 72 grams, 91 mm



Ex Mister X. (1931-2017) private collection. Sold in the benefit of the 'Croix-Rouge of Monaco'.

Squat, drum-shaped body with broad shoulder and low neck, everted rim to the mouth; three applied strap handles to the shoulder; painted circumferential bands to the body, concentric bands to the underside, trilinear s-motifs to the shoulder, slip red to the mouth and handles; rim restored. 585 grams, 17.5 cm wide



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.