Phoenician Painted Terracotta Cup

With a high foot, laurel wreath encircling the neck, checkerboard and meander patterns alternating around the lower body, roundels of tongue motif to the handles with palmettes and tendrils below; two red-figure scenes to the body: Side a: a high-quality depiction of a kōmos composed of five figures, including a young man holding a torch, a double flute player next to three dancers, all possibly followers of Dionysus; Side b: three draped figures conversing comprising a central female figure between two opposed male figures, one holding a staff; two old labels: one with 3061-133 on the inner rim, and 113/2 (believed to be an old Christie's lot label from the 1960s by Richard Falkiner) on the sidewall, further old accession numbers 321 and 35 under the base. 3.8 kg, 37 cm wide



Thomas Hope (1769-1831), London and the Deepdene, Surrey, Thence by descent to Lord Henry Francis Hope Pelham-Clinton-Hope (1866-1941), the Deepdene. The Celebrated Collection of Greek, Roman and Egyptian Sculpture and Ancient Vases being a portion of The Hope Heirlooms; Christie's, London, 23-24 July 1917, no.113. Private collection, acquired in Paris, 2004. Accompanied by a copy of a thermoluminescence analysis report no.N111j79 from Oxford Authentication. 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 number no.11786-206517.

The Kadmos Painter was an Athenian red-figure vase painter, whose real name is unknown. His nickname was bestowed by Beazley, naming him after the subject of a famous hydria in Berlin (Antikensammlungen Berlin/Altes Museum, found in Vulci). He illustrated many mythological scenes, sometimes with figures arranged up and down the field, usually on bell craters, vessels used in symposia for mixing wine and water. A komos was a ritualistic drunken procession performed by revellers in ancient Greece. It preceded and/or followed the banquet, whether unbridled in nature with music and games, or serious and philosophical.

Each with burnished surface, globular body with conical underside, tall spout with open rear face, loop handle; one with lateral lugs to the spout forming 'eyes'. 780 grams total, 19.5-27 cm



with Christie's, London, 11 December 1974. Formerly from the collection of Lord Dayton of Corran, formed between 1960-2000. Acquired from Bonham's, New Bond Street, 27 April 2006, lot 313 (part). The smaller vessel is 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. Accompanied by a copy of the relevant Bonhams catalogue pages.

The plain red polished ware was dominant in Cyprus in the early Bronze Age. It included jugs with nipple base, cutaway sprout, and paired, blunt projections near handle attachment points.

With ellipsoid bezel, intaglio standing female figure with distaff and bow or staff, possibly Artemis; repaired. 10.36 grams, 20.60 mm overall, 17.50 x 19.12 mm internal diameter (approximate size British Q, USA 8, Europe 17.49, Japan 16)



Formerly in an old collection formed in the 1970s. Ex Dutch gentleman. Property of a London gentleman.

This is classical Greek type ring dating to 4th century B.C., and the bezel shows a goddess standing naked. The position of the goddess recalls that of Hera or Aphrodite, in the Salting Group (Boardman, 2001, no.733), but the simple dress of the figure with the chiton seems to refer to Diana holding a hunting spear.