Lot 909

Description

Two Hellenistic clay figures, probably of Ptolemaic production in sienna-coloured clay. 1) Fragment of a hovering Eros in the shape of a naked boy holding a torch with both hands angled upwards in front of his upper body. Above the shoulders the small, outward-pointing wings. The head, slightly inclined to the left, with a boy's hairstyle and wool wreath. The regular face and well-proportioned body finely worked in a style of above-average quality. The right leg completely broken off, the left below the knee. Small chips on the headdress above the apex of the wool wreath and on the flame of the torch. Otherwise very well preserved, still extremely graceful Hellenistic small sculpture. Assembled from two halves, the seams largely smoothed over. Preserved height 15 cm. 2) Mounted soldier in riding position, dressed in a chiton. The abdomen girded with a striped cuirass of organic material (linen or leather). The head covered with a late Chalcidian helmet type. Cheek guards and neck guard as well as three medallion-like bosses on the brow guard finely worked, the pleating of the chiton on the chest and hips. The arms broken off. Assembled from two halves, the seams only very roughly smoothed and clearly visible. Height 15 cm. CULTURAL ASSET!

Provenance: Private collection in Stuttgart (bequeathed to the children A.B. and E.B.). Acquired by the parents (S. B. and B. B.) in 1977 from an art dealer in Jerusalem. Copies of ‘certificates’ issued by the antiquities dealer at the time of purchase, bearing the date and the buyers’ passport numbers, are available. Offered for sale several years ago at the Eppli auction house (labels still present).

Condition: II - Questions about the lot?