South Italian Black-Glazed Ribbed Mug

With lustrous black glaze with metallic shimmer; shallow bowl on ring foot; fine double drill-hole in the ring for suspension; carinated inner edge, carinated lip to sidewall; base in reserve with two concentric circles in red; old collector's label 'N12960' to underside. 153 grams, 10.1 cm



Private collection Bavaria. By descent, in possession of the family since 1960s-1970s. German art market, 2013. Accompanied by a copy of an Art Loss Register certificate no.S00111200. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

Comprising a shallow bowl and broad flange rim, two integral scalloped handles with lateral scrolled flourishes, each tapering to a S-curved handle with swan-head terminals with incised eye and beak detailing; perforated whirl within roundel to interior base; accompanied by a custom-made display stand with mirror. 402 grams total, 19.7 cm including stand



with Hôtel des ventes de Belfort Sarl, October 2011, no.16. Acquired by the present owner at the above sale. 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.12209-222140. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

Elaborate gilded strainers, such as this present example, were used at symposia and festive occasions for the purpose of preventing the dregs of wine from entering the wine cup. This and other related silver utensils became popular in the later 4th and 3rd century B.C. These highly decorated wine strainers were fitted with dual handles forming loops in the shape of twisting animals, here a swan. Usually they took the form of a shallow dish complete with four rings of perforations in the centre in order to drain the wine. Strainers of this type were used to separate out sediments which could be found in the thick Greek wine. Examples similar to this one have been found in royal tombs in northern Greece, as well as the tomb of a monarch in Sudan.

Of lentoid form with domed reverse, showing a lion attacking a bull from above with its jaws and claws sunken into the bull's hindquarters, the bull shown standing with its head turned towards the lion in the act of trying to pry it off with its long horns; pierced horizontally. 7.45 grams, 26 mm



With Münzen und Medaillen A.G., Basel, prior 1980. 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.12465-228767. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.