< Previous14A GEOMETRIC PYXIS WITH LID H. 6.5 cm. Bronze. Greek, Geometric, 8th–7th cent. B.C. CHF 1,800 Spherical body on a high, conical foot that is round at the bottom. The miniature vessel is closed with a lid that is adorned on the sides and in the centre by handle appliques in the shape of stylised bird’s head protomes. Two holes on the rim of the vessel and in the lid allowed both parts to be firmly connected, presumably with bronze wires, and the vessel to be suspended. Intact. Formerly European art market, prior to 2000. Thereafter priv. coll. Surrey, Great Britain, acquired on the British art market. For Geometric and Archaic miniature bronze vessels of similar size that are thought to be votive gifts, cf. British Museum, London, inv. nos. 1931,1016.6 and 1814,0704.982. For the style, cf. a bronze bird from a fibula, likewise in the British Museum, inv. no. 1863,0330.33 (all online).15AN AMPHORA WITH FOUR HANDLES AND FISH H. 56.6 cm. Clay, red matt glaze. Italo-Geometric, 7th cent. B.C. CHF 12,000 A large ovoid amphora with four double handles on a tall conical foot with a torus. Horizon- tal bands on foot, giving way to rays. The shoulder is adorned with two large fish, probably cow bream, with gaping mouths and sharp teeth. Wave pattern and pendant hatched tri- angles on neck. Horizontal bands of varying breadth on body and neck. Reassembled from large fragments, restorations to mouth and foot, various infills, especially in the interior, retouching, two handles completely and two handles partially restored. Formerly priv. coll. Prof. Werner Alder, Basel, acquired in April 1975. Thence by descent in the family. For the large fish on the shoulder and tall corona of rays, cf. the oinochoe Tarquinia, inv. no. RC 8691, Corpus Vasorum Antiquorum Italia 55, Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Tarquinia 3, 9, nos. 6–7, pl. 2,6–7. For an amphora with two handles related in shape and size, cf. I. Jucker et al., Italy of the Etruscans, cat. Jerusalem (Mainz 1991) 209 f., no. 275 with illus. For the wave pattern, cf. G. Schade et al., Die Welt der Etrusker, cat. Berlin (Berlin 1988) 48, no. A 2.11 with illus.16A BUCCHERO OINOCHOE WITH GRAZING STAGS H. 30.8 cm. Clay, Bucchero pesante. Etruscan, 6th cent. B.C. CHF 8,800 A large trefoil oinochoe with an ovoid body on a low ring foot. The upper third of the body is decorated in low relief with three stags with long antlers grazing to left. They are framed by vertical tongues that taper towards the bottom. Four grooves encircle the neck. Rotellae at the transition from the curved handle to the rim of the mouth. Reassembled from large fragments, with minor restorations, infills at the joins and retouching. Formerly priv. coll. Dr. Dr. h. c. S. Schweizer, Arlesheim and Breganzona, Switzerland. With Sotheby’s London, Auction 15.7.1980, lot 17 with illus. English art market, 2020. Published: M. Avi-Yonah, Museum of Mediterranean Archaeology, Nir David, Israel (Nir David 1966) pl. 17,5; I. Jucker, Italy of the Etruscans (Jerusalem 1991) 194, no. 254 with illus.17A SMALL BLACK-FIGURE AMPHORA WITH HORSEMEN H. 17.9 cm. Clay. Etruscan, last quarter 6th–1st quarter 5th cent. B.C. CHF 4,600 A frieze of tongues on the neck and frieze of stylised lotus blossoms and buds on the shoul- der. The figural scene is framed by double lines both above and below. It depicts four nude horsemen in dynamic motion, some with streaming hair, as they perform various exercises on horseback. Interior and exterior of neck and top of foot glazed black. Base in reserve. Reassembled from large fragments; joins filled in and retouched. A lacuna on the belly re- stored in reserve, another above the foot restored and retouched. Formerly priv. coll. Prof. Kurt Alder., Basel; thence by descent in the family. Cf. an amphora with a related frieze of youthful riders in Siena, formerly coll. Chigi, inv. no. 38478: N. J. Spivey, The Micali Painter and his Followers (Oxford 1987) 10, no. 33, pl. 8a. Spivey attri- butes that vase to the early phase II of the Micali Painter, a vase painter who was active in Vulci from 530–500 B.C.18A HACKAMORE WITH SWAN’S HEADS L. max. 22.2 cm. Bronze. Roman, Late Republican to Early Imperial, Campania, 1st cent. B.C.–3rd quarter 1st cent. A.D. CHF 2,400 This hackamore or bitless bridle was made from a cast bronze rod that was bent into the required shape. It consists of a noseband, cheekpieces and throatband. A rectangular plaque in the centre of the noseband, reverse concave and slightly recessed in the middle. At the transition to each cheek piece, an outwards curving applique adorned with a swan’s head with punched eyes and clearly incised teeth. Intact. Group II metal bridle with noseband and central disc according to Simon. Metal bridles of this type are known from finds made in Pompeii, amongst other places. Formerly Herbert A. Cahn, Basel, 1990s. A slightly larger bridle in the British Museum, London, inv. no. 1873.0820.241 (accessible online) is almost identical in construction and style. It also has swan’s heads, but lacks the plaque. For further literature on the Group II metal bridle with noseband and central disc according to Simon, cf. C. Simon, Studien zum römischen Pferdegeschirr aus Pompeji, Herculaneum und den Vesuvvillen. Metallzäume, Trensen und Kandaren, PhD thesis, Munich 2003, 18 ff., esp. no. NH 25, pls. 1–2.Next >