A Bronze Greek Helmet of Illyrian Type
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A Bronze Greek Helmet of Illyrian Type

Description

This bronze helmet is designed for combat rather than purely ceremonial purposes, with blade-like wings which slide forward under the jawline from a straight-edge forehead margin. The top of the helmet is fortified with two prominent structural ‘ribs’ designed to deflect sword blows, while the rear edge of the helmet – above the shoulders – is lipped outwards to provide a neck guard. There are faint marks indicating that the helmet was indeed struck, probably by a sword, on the left side.

The early date of this piece put it in the Illyrian (i.e. Macedonian and Albanian) kingdom of the Enchelei, an 8th and 7th century B.C.E. polity focused around Lake Ohrid in what is now Albania and Macedonia. Their economy appears to have been based mainly on fishing, and they had extensive trade networks with Greece. They also had an uneasy relationship with local tribes including Macedonians and the Dardani, among others, and the fact that they seem to have spent much of their time at war may explain why so much of their art and material culture is based around warrior-like iconography and accessories. A helmet such as this would have been worn by a lightly-armed foot-soldier (or Hoplite, in Greek terms), and was designed for skirmishing. This is an evocative and impressive piece of ancient art.

REFERENCE #

WP_GR_1007

CIVILIZATION

Greek, 700 B.C.E. – 500 B.C.E.

SIZE

H. 27 cm

CONDITION

Fine condition

PRICE

Sold

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An Egyptian Mummy Mask
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An Egyptian Mummy Mask

DESCRIPTION

Made of cartonnage – a medium consisting of layers of fibers – this mummy mask features a broad foliate and beaded collar. The wig is decorated with an open lotus blossom on the forehead and a scarab on the crown. The cheek straps and other details are painted in blue, purple, red, pink and green on a yellow ground.

REFERENCE #

SI_EG_1049

CIVILIZATION

Egyptian, 100 C.E.

SIZE

H. 33 cm

CONDITION

Some normal areas of edge losses, mostly minor; a few open splits and some areas of the interior have been strengthened with a linen backing. Some normal minor paint flakes. Lower front portion of wig is curled under; the very tip of the nose chipped.

PRICE

Sold

PROVENANCE

Private NYS collection, ex. Sotheby’s, Sale 5464, lot 250, May 30th, 1986

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Ancient Bronze Thrusting Sword
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Ancient Bronze Thrusting Sword

DESCRIPTION

This Persian sword is a remarkable example of the technology and design that went into crafting an ancient piece of weaponry. The dark hue of this sword lends it an austere weight, while the thick ribs and large crescent of the hilt are an indication of the strength required to wield such a heavy object. The broad blade seems to be made not for bludgeoning as much as cutting, with the raised ridge that runs along its length adding force to its blows.

This is a piece that makes a forceful statement in any collection, especially for collectors looking for a simpler alternative to the overwrought designs of later civilizations. The ancient Persians were known for their battle prowess, and this weapon is a fine example as to the tools ancient warriors had at their disposal. This sword has been wonderfully restored and displays a brilliant luster that still gleams along its long blade.

REFERENCE #

WP_PR_1111

CIVILIZATION

Persian, 1200 B.C.E. – 1100 B.C.E.

SIZE

L. 54 cm, 8 cm W

CONDITION

Excellent condition

PRICE

$11500

PROVENANCE

Jerusalem Private Collection

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Greek Ceramic Figurine of a Sphinx
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Greek Ceramic Figurine of a Sphinx

According to ancient literary sources, the sphinx was a monster with the face and bust of a woman, the talons of a lion, the body of a dog, a serpent’s tail and wings of a bird. Its pale appearance, venomous mouth and stony gaze characterised this demon of divine origin. Its presence amongst humans created uncertainty and fear. It is possible that this hybrid had its origin in Egyptian iconography, where it was represented with the body of a feline and a human face, and was probably related to the divine power of the pharaoh.

This terracotta piece shows a monster seated on its haunches and in profile, with its head turned to the right toward the public. The female countenance has idealised features of great beauty. The thick, wavy hair is crowned with a polos or crown on the Corinthian model. On the right wing the rendering of the feathers shows a clear interest in the anatomical details of birds: the feathers inserted into the body itself are small and short, rather like scales, while those at the extreme end of the wing are long and narrow, to help the bird take flight.

The sculptural prototype of Greek sphinxes appears around the 7th century BC in terracotta, and was usually found decorating large receptacles. A century later they appeared in marble crowning seated ex-votos on a column. The monstrous, aggressive nature of the hybrid was channelled into funerary art, serving as an apotropaic symbol to keep away malevolent forces. It was usual, therefore, to find this iconography in metopes and hollow acroteria in Greek necropoleis of the 6th century BC, usually with the animal in profile and turning its head toward the public in an attitude of defiance.

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

  • BILLOT, M.F. “Le Sphinx du Louvre CA 637”, Bulletin de Correspondence Hellénique. 1977.
  • MARCONI, C. Temple Decoration and Cultural Identity in the Archaic Greek World. Getty Foundation. 2007, p. 90.
  • RENGER, A.B. Oedipus and the Sphinx: The Threshold Myth from Sophocles through Freud to Cocteau. UCP. 2013.
  • STILLWELL, A. N. Corinth: The Potters’ Quarter. Harvard Univ. Press. 1952.

REFERENCE #

SI_GR_1034

Civilization Greek,

6th – 5th century B.C.E.

 

SIZE

H. 18 cm

 

CONDITION

In a good state of preservation, without any restoration.

 

PROVENACE,

Private collection G. A., Gardena, California, USA.

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Hellenistic Bronze Face of Silenus Greek god of Drunkenness and Wine
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Hellenistic Bronze Face of Silenus Greek god of Drunkenness and Wine

DESCRIPTION

This bronze depiction of Silenus, Greek god of drunkenness and wine-press, dates to the Hellenistic period 300 B.C.E. – 200 B.C.E.  He was companion of the wine god Dionysus, and from the 5th century B.C.E. the name Silenus was applied to Dionysus’ foster father, which thus aided the gradual absorption of the Satyrs and Sileni into the Dionysiac cult.

Here Silenus is depicted as an old satyr with a long mustache and a square beard with big curling hair locks.  The face has strong features with chubby cheeks, snub-nose, fleshy lips, frowning brows, as well as pointed ears with ivy leaves set over both of them.  The face is finely modeled with a strong and living expression.  It is framed with a contour line at the border of the missing upper and back parts of the head.

Such a facial depiction was applied on a statue which was possibly made of other material.  The punched surface of the face may indicate that it was plated or sheathed with silver or gold.

 

Classical Depictions of Silenus

A notorious consumer of wine, Silenus was usually drunk and had to be supported by satyrs or carried by a donkey. When intoxicated Silenus was said to possess special knowledge and the power of prophecy:  It was believed that he acquired arcane knowledge and was able to predict the future.  Seilenos was, in essence, the spirit of the treading dance of the wine-press – his name being derived from the words seiô, “to move to and fro,” and lênos, “the wine-trough.”

 

Reference:

For the style:

cf. Smith, R.R.R., Hellenistic Sculpture, Thames and Hudson, London 1991, fig. 299; Stewart, A., Greek Sculpture. An Exploration, II ( plates ), Yale University Press, New Haven & London, 1990, figs. 684, 708.

For a similar Etruscan Satyr:

cf. Mitten, D. G., and Doeringer, S. F., editors, Master Bronzes from the Classical World, Exh. cat., Fogg Art Museum, Cambridge, Mass., 1967, p.222, fig. 225.

For Silenus’ head:

cf. Ibid, p. 125, fig. 125.

 

Sources:

1.) Britannica – Satyr

2.) Wikipedia – Silenus

3.) Theoi – Seilenos

4.) Greek Mythology – Silenus

REFERENCE #

SI_GR_1016

CIVILIZATION

Hellenistic, 300 B.C.E. – 200 B.C.E.

SIZE

H. 6.5 cm

CONDITION

Two holes below the mouth. Surface with light punch marks

PRICE

$8,500 USD

PROVENANCE

The Baidun Collection

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