Catalog: Antiques (289)

Small hand modeled Villanova vessel with rounded shoulder and short neck. The handles arching from the rim to the edge of the shoulder.
Light vertical ribbing on the shoulder. Standing on a flat base. Lustrous surface with traces of the modeling stick.
Ceramic, Impasto ware
Etruscan, Villanova Culture, 750-650 BC
H. to rim 7.4 cm (2.9 in)
H. to handle 8.4 cm (3.3 in)
Fine condition with light surface wear...

Full cast roe deer with elongated body, the curved neck slightly prone. Pointed tail. The head small and pointed, horns and ears cut out in an X-shape. Thin legs with kinked hooves. Right hind leg broken off.
Bronze
Greek, late 8th century BC
L. 4.9 cm (1.9 in)
H. 4.3 cm (1.7 in)
H. with stand 5.5 cm (2.2 in)
Fine condition. Right hind leg missing.
Published with: Jean-David Cahn. Katalog 13. Tiere und Mischwesen II. Basel, December 2001, lot no...

Amuletic figure of the canine god Wepwawet depicted on the bar of a standard. The front of the sledge is curved like a billowing sail and integrates a couple of rearing uraeus cobras.
The jackal wears a dog collar, the suspension loop behind is partially preserved. This small example was intended as a protective amulet.
For a related example, cf. acc. no...

Hand-modeled bowl of hemispherical body with a single handle at the rim. The base rounded.
The burnished surface with a red-brown slip and purple-red bands of wavy lines that form a cross on both the inner and outer surface. Purple-red lines on the handle.
For a related example, cf. British Museum database no. 1884,1210.103.
Ceramic
Middle Cypriot ,1850 BC-1550 BC
D. 15.4 cm (6.1 in)
W. over handle 18.4 cm (7.2 in)
H...

Wooden animal sarcophagus, perhaps intended for a serpent, fashioned as a shrine with nice cavetto cornices on top and a vertical sliding door in front.
Carved from a single piece of cedar with interior grooves to fit the front panel.
These kinds of shrines could house mortuary statues, mummified remains of animals or symbols associated with a particular deity.
For a snake coffin in the Brooklyn Museum, cf. inv. no. 37.1358E. For a shrew coffin with sliding door, cf. inv. no...

Larger than usual bucchero ware kantharos of canonical shape. The high-swung strap handles attached at the rim and the dented ridge at the join to the straight wall. Standing on a low flared foot. Incised lines just below the rim.
Rasmussen’s type 3e kantharos of the standard coastal type known from workshops in the Etruscan cities of Vulci and Cerveteri.
For similar examples, cf. items 240-242 in: Ines Jucker. Italy of the Etruscans...

Onion-shaped vessel with finely impressed ribs on the rounded exterior of the body.
The flat shoulder topped by a narrow neck with flared bell mouth. The thin handle curves from neck to shoulder.
The vessel is covered with an attractive jet black glaze that creates a brilliant reflection in any light.
Reserved just above and underneath the base.
For comparable examples, cf. Beazley Archive database nos. 9014274 and 9032276.
Ceramic
Apulian, 350-300 BC

Large terracotta bull with prominent horns and a pronounced hump on the back. The holes for the wheel axles on the integrated base are indicative of a child's toy.
Also the small hole at the very front of the base, which was used to attach a pull cord.
Terracotta
Near Eastern, 1st millennium BC
H. 17.1 cm (6.7 in), L. 14.2 cm (5.6 in)
Encrusted and worn, but intact.
Private NYC collection, acquired 1970s-1980s. Joined by several labels from PB 84 (Parke...

Rare libation bowl with twelve egg-shaped cavities around the central omphalos. The recesses served to hold votive eggs.
On the inside of the segmented rim twelve neatly modeled youthful heads with Phrygian caps.
Egg-and-dart decoration along the rim, on top and around the base of the omphalos.
The surface is covered with a yellow wash to imitate metal prototypes.
Surviving terracotta counterparts are connected with Tarentum, where toreutic workshops were particularl...

Hand modeled biconical vase with carefully burnished cream ground.
Decorated in red with loop groups around the body and horizontal bands on the wide cylindrical neck.
The bag shaped body elongates laterally into pointed knob handles. Standing on a flat base.
Shape and decoration are consistent with painted Hacilar I pottery ware. For the shape, cf. fig. 140,7, pp. 412-413 in: J. Mellaart. Excavations at Hacilar. Vol. 1. Edinburgh 1970. For the discussion of Hacilar I pott...

Hand modeled biconical vase with cream ground and red to dark brown decoration.
The body with groups of chevrons starting from a star-shaped pattern on the bottom. The narrow neck with a band of converging zig-zag patterns.
The globular body elongates laterally into pointed knob handles. Standing on a gently rounded base, vase slightly askew in appearance.
Shape and decoration are consistent with painted Hacilar I pottery ware.
For the shape, cf. fig. 140,7, pp. 412-...

Fine Etruscan chalice supported by a tall, slender stem. Three parallel grooves and a sharply cut carination decorate the exterior of the bowl. Robust double molding on the stem, close to the flaring foot. Brilliant black Bucchero pottery with polished surface.
Rare shape commonly associated with the ancient Etruscan city of Vulci.
For a related example in Malibu, cf. Beazley Archive vase no. 1002468.
Ceramic, Bucchero ware
Etruscan, about 575-550 BC
H. 15 cm...

Fine Etruscan chalice supported by a tall, slender stem. Three parallel grooves and a sharply cut carination decorate the exterior of the bowl. Robust double molding on the stem, close to the flaring foot. Brilliant black Bucchero pottery with polished surface.
Rare shape commonly associated with the ancient Etruscan city of Vulci.
For a related example in Malibu, cf. Beazley Archive vase no. 1002468.
Ceramic, Bucchero ware
Etruscan, about 575-550 BC
H. 14.8 c...

Seated bronze cat with arched back and noble posture of the head. The tail curled around to the front. The small head with beady eyes and erect ears, mouth and nose engraved.
The cat features very long forelegs and a small chest, on which appears an incised necklace with a rudimentary Eye of Horus pendant.
Cats were the embodiment of Bastet, goddess of Bubastis and patroness of joy and women.
Bronze
Egyptian, Late Period, 26th-30th Dynasty, 664-332 BC
H. 8.3 ...

Seated Eros tightly wrapped in a heavy cloak pulled over the stippled wreath on his head. The chubby face with remains of pink color, red lips.
Eros holds a pointed amphora with a stippled ribbon/garland hanging around the vessel’s shoulder. The ends of the ribbon run down the young god’s back. The stumps on the back belong to the missing wings.
White color for the garment. Traces of red and blue pigment on the sideward folds.
For a coarser Eros holding an amphora of Th...

Greek perfume vessel of cylindrical body tapering at the neck with flat everted rim and a delicate ridge around the shoulder. Small depression below the rounded base; polished surface.
Alabastra would have held scented oil and, based on paintings on pottery, were frequently owned by women for use after bathing.
Alabaster
Greek, 5th century BC
H 8.3 cm (3.3 in)
Intact, rare shape, exquisite make. Comes without stand.
Ex inventory Herbert A. Cahn, Basel (...

Greek perfume vessel of cylindrical body tapering at the neck with flat everted rim and a faint ridge around the shoulder. Small depression below the rounded base; polished surface.
Alabastra would have held scented oil and, based on paintings on pottery, were frequently owned by women for use after bathing.
Alabaster
Greek, 5th century BC
H 9.6 cm (3.8 in)
Rim worn and in part reattached, small section missing. Slight traces of red paint.
Herbert A. Ca...

Wheel-made hemispherical bowl on a ring base, the outer surface covered with a dark brown slip. Twin cylindrical horizontal rim lugs, incised grooves to the outer rim. Although wheel-made the rim is slightly askew.
From the collection of Desmond Morris (*1928), important collector and editor of The Art of Ancient Cyprus, Oxford 1985.
Old inventory number (344) written under the base.
Ceramic
Cypriot, Cypro-Geometric, ca. 850-750 BC
D. rim 12 cm (4.7 in)
...