Villanovan Terracotta Impasto Kylix with Zoomorphic Finials

With an arching strap handle and a wide spout; either side of the body painted with a crouching panther, one playing with a ball and the other depicted facing; repaired. 149 grams, 12 cm



Acquired from Gallery Gryphos, Munich, 1992. European private 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 a search certificate number no.12001-211879. 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.

Painted askoi in different forms were produced and been in use in Athens since the middle and second quarter of the 5th century B.C., but they were also made in southern Italy. The askoi painted with a pair of animal figures were realised in Magna Graecia after the Attic continental production of similar models, with the representation of griffins, sphinxes and laconic hounds. The function of the askos as a vessel was clearly linked to wine, and therefore it is not anomalous to see it decorated with panther motifs, an animal connected with Dionysus, the god of wine and drinking.

Formed with a squat globular body, everted rim and three lug handles to the shoulder; painted reddish-brown over a cream slip with concentric bands and rings to the mouth, neck, shoulder and base, larger solid undulating forms covering the lower body. 70 grams, 69 mm



Acquired from Royal Athena Gallery, 2003. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11851-206833. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

The warrior (Roman Mars) modelled in the round, representing a young muscular hero with long torso and rounded shoulders, wearing a high-crested Illyrian helmet with grooved perimeter, a hole above each ear for attaching an ornament; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 326 grams total, 16.2 cm high including stand



Ex N. Koutoulakis, Geneva. Ex Gorny & Mosch, Munich, 17 June 1999, no.2051. with Sotheby's, New York, 12 June 2001, no.16. with Chrisitie's, New York, 7 December 2007, no.82. with Christie's, London, 2 April 2014, no.125. 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.11803-206793. 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.

The statuette assumes the position of the 'warring Mars', which characterises the numerous Etruscan and Italic statues of the god produced as votive offerings to the temples or for private lararia. The god is depicted as taking part in a military march with his left leg advancing, his raised right would have held a spear and the left hand a shield.