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LOT 0103
Scythian Gold Ring with Pair of Stags
CIRCA 6TH CENTURY B.C.
1 1/2 in. (7.59 grams, 38.13 mm overall, 18.63 mm internal diameter (approximate size British P 1/2, USA 7 3/4, Europe 16.86, Japan 16)).
Comprising a broad hoop of gold filigree ropework with wire borders, applied filigree rosette to underside; rectangular plaque with band of filigree loops to both long edges, applied filigree meander to centre; two hollow-formed model stags' heads each with applied filigree meander to both sides of the neck and to the spine, filigree and granule facial and other features, filigree antlers; disc dangle and filigree shank and hoop attaching to right stag's head.
ProvenancePrivate collection formed in Europe in the 1980s.
Westminster collection, central London, UK.
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.12355-225025.
Cf. Marshall, F.H., Catalogue of the Jewellery, Greek, Etruscan and Roman, in the Department of Antiquities, British Museum, London, 1911, items 1166, 1228-1230, for type of jewellery with similar rosettes and filigree work; similar forms of rosette and filigree work in gold jewellery of the period in Despini, A., Greek Art. Ancient Gold Jewellery, Athens, 1996, e.g. pl.5, p.52 (earring with identical rosette); see also Castor, A.Q., ‘Archaic Greek Earrings: An interim survey’ in Archäologischer Anzeiger, 2008,1, pp.1-34.
FootnotesThe presence of stags on the ring is a clear reference to the cult of Artemis, the hunting goddess, whose favourite animal was the deer. A particular cult of Artemis was celebrated at Brauron, in Attica. According to some stories, this was the place where Iphigenia, daughter of Agamemnon, was sacrificed to the goddess after Agamemnon offended the goddess by killing one of her sacred stags.
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Etrusco-Corinthian Ring Askos
Circa 575 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £260
With strap handle positioned over the central hole; black-figure decoration with fired umber (reddish-brown) consisting of a broad band heightened with crimson and white round the upper part of the wall, and a wavy band on the reversed area below; broad band of black (fired umber) inside the ring and around the neck below the spout; groups of transverse lines with faded petals around the top, horizontal lines across the handle; intact. 349 grams, 16.5 cm
Acquired from Charles Ede Gallery, London, in 1982. Prominent Palm Springs, California, USA, collection. with Artemis Gallery, Colorado, USA, 14 July 2012, lot 30 (US$2,500-3,000). Property of a South Australian private collector, with collection reference 14.08. Accompanied by detailed collector's catalogue pages including description and photograph.
Etrusco-Corinthian pottery is a local imitation of Corinthian pottery, made from the late seventh to the mid-sixth century B.C., with production concentrated on the southern Etruscan cities of Caere, Veii and Vulci. The forms predominately employed include various forms of jug (olpai, oinochoe) and unguent containers (aryballoi and alabastra) as well as amphorae and craters. The askos is the name given in modern parlance to a type of Greek pottery vessel used to pour small quantities of liquids such as oil. It is recognisable from its flat shape and a spout at one or both ends that could also be used as a handle; they were usually painted decoratively like vases and were mainly used for storing oil and refilling oil lamps. They were extensively traded in and around the Mediterranean, and local types emerge in Italy from the early Iron Age in Italy (cf. CVA Taranto – Museo Nazionale I, pl. 1.1 (Inv. 2400) – refer photo at 14.08 – 3); also CVA British Museum 7, pl. 4.4). The original meaning of ἀσκός is “wineskin” which can be seen in the shapes of early askoi. This askos has unique painted decoration for which a parallel has not been found to date. For an earlier variant of this type, see CVA Tarquinia – Museo Archeologico Nazionale III, pl. 27.7-8 (Inv. RC. 1892). Described as 'Italo- Geometric' and dated to third quarter of the seventh century. Neck is longer than on Inv.14.08, and with different decorations, but otherwise it is an early parallel. Another variant of this type can be seen in CVA Museo Civico d’Archeologia Ligure di Genova, I, pl. 1.2-3 (Inv. 1101). The groups of horizontal line decoration can be seen on earlier types, cf. late eighth to early seventh century footed cup in the Museo Archeologico della Maremma (CVA Grosetto Museo Archeologico I, pl. 26.3 (Inv. 24294)). -
Greek Gold Earrings with Female Heads
Hellenistic, 2nd-1st century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,470
Each a hollow-formed female head with stephane to the brow, granulated collars flanking biconvex bulbs, tapering twisted shank curved to meet the gussetted loop above the head. 5.93 grams total, 25-28 mm
From the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s. -
Scythian Bronze Ram Mount
6th-2nd century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Formed as a ram running left with large curled horns, legs tucked beneath body; mounting lug with discoid head to reverse. 18.3 grams, 43 mm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. Accompanied by a previous cataloguing card.
