Scythian Decorated Gold Bell

A hollow-formed gold amulet of a crab with socketted claws above, pierced for attachment. 0.85 grams, 11.5 mm

Fine condition.

Acquired 1970s-1980s. Ex UK collection. Property of a Portsmouth, UK gentleman.

A ceramic red-figure bail amphora with round-section strap handle and pierced lug at the apex, tall waisted neck with vertical rib detailing, rounded shoulder with running wave pattern ornament, tapering body with figural designs of standing females wearing a himation and a stephane in red and white on black ground, one figure holding a thyrsus and the other an ear of corn, with accessories in the field; flared base; from a workshop in Cumae. 862 grams, 37 cm high



Ex collection H.& P. Payot, Clarens, by descent. 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.11577-199027. Accompanied by an original thermoluminescence analysis report no.QED2223/SG0-0105 from QED Laboratoire.

The bail amphora, named for the tall handle arching over the mouth, was a shape made primarily in Campania, where red-figure vases were produced at both Capua and Cumae in the 4th century B.C. The decoration offered a remarkable range of subjects associated not only with mythological images, but with representations of the local life, costumes and customs. The simple, single figure compositions decorating each side of this vase are also characteristic of the style, which tended to avoid complex mythological scenes often found on much larger vessels like volute craters, favouring representation of the daily life of south Italic people.

A red-figure terracotta hydria with mythological scene, the vessel with integral round-section upward facing handles, a third, round-section handle placed vertically between shoulder and upper neck to rear; laurel sprigs to the neck with traces of gilding; combat scene with Amazons (and Trojans?) below, armed with short swords and crescent shields, most wearing an exomis leaving the shoulder and one breast uncovered; volute palmettes below both side handles, a panel of tiered and swirling volutes to the rear, all on a band of egg-moulding, repeated around the rim; possibly Apulian or Campanian; restored. 3 kg, 46 cm high



Ex collection Woodyat, Rome, Italy, 1912. with Vente Genève, 24 & 25 June 1960. Private European collection. 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.11581-199028.

The mythological topic of this hydria is fascinating, representing the fight between Amazons and Greek or Trojan heroes (suggested by the central cavalryman wearing a Phrygian cap). During this period, Amazons were no longer represented as Persian or Scythian warriors, as in Attic red-figure ceramics, but depicted as athletic parthenoi and wearing chitons. Rather than the oriental costume and armour, the Amazons wear a short exomis with a bare shoulder and breast (Patten, 2013, PI.VI, I, VI,2, 2 and 3).