Parthian Hammered Silver Drinking Vessel

Modelled as a skinned lion's head with fierce facial detailing; made for soldering to an articulated round handle. 98 grams, 51 mm high



Private collection, Germany, 1980s. Acquired on the UK art market 2010.

The handles were usually shaped as divinities or animals linked with gods (ie. lions for Herakles). A similar specimen can be seen in the Berlin Museum (inv.7491), from Athens.

With rounded loop handles with elaborate palmettes below, pedestal foot; Side A with nude Eros flying left, holding a dish in his right hand; Side B with a standing female (Psyche?) waiting for Eros and offering a wreath with her left hand, dressed in a flowing peplos, a small altar before. 90 grams, 27 cm wide



Ex Barnard & Moore, 2003. From a Norfolk, UK, private collection. Accompanied by an original thermoluminescence analysis report no.N123k4 from Oxford Authentication. Accompanied by an old Moore Antiquities identification card with reference no.1958 and invoice dated 26 July 2003. 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.11918-205900.

The Iliupersis Painter was a south Italic Greek vase painter whose name is unknown. The name derives from a represented scene in a volute crater in the British Museum depicting the sacking of Troy (Iliou Persis). The characteristic pillar-shaped monument depicted here can be seen also on the MET hydria, where the closed foot of the woman corresponds in detail to the one on our vase. The Iliupersis Painter was a prolific and innovative artist, active just before mid 4th century B.C., whose work set the standard for the large, ornate-style vases of the second half of the same century: volute-kraters with plastic masks on the volutes, increased polychromy, complex floral ornament, multilevel compositions, mourners surrounding funerary naiskoi and stelei.

With stepped foot and two loop handles to the rim, egg-and-dart border; Side A: female in loosely draped robe with fringe borders holding one corner of her robe in her raised left hand and advancing towards a male wearing a tight-fitting jacket and flared skirt, cap with straps flung wide; Side B: similar scene with the female standing with one hand on her hip, the male in the act of dancing; volute scroll beneath each handle. 1.02 kg, 30.5 cm wide



Ex P.A., Hertfordshire, UK, specialist collection of Greek art, 1980-1990s. Accompanied by an original thermoluminescence analysis report no.N123n52 from Oxford Authentication. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11952-210225.