CENTURIPE, CIRCA 3RD-2ND CENTURY B.C.

Details

A SICILIAN POLYCHROME POTTERY PLAQUE
CENTURIPE, CIRCA 3RD-2ND CENTURY B.C.
10 3⁄16 in. (25.8 cm.) diam.

Provenance

with Donati Arte Classica, Lugano.
Fridolin (1903-1969) and Halina (1907-1989) Schwitter-Lagutt Collection, Basel, acquired from the above in 1964.

Exhibited

On loan to the Antikenmuseum, Basel, 1971-2022.

Special notice

This lot is offered without reserve. This lot has been imported from outside of the UK for sale and placed under the Temporary Admission regime. Import VAT is payable at 5% on the hammer price. VAT at 20% will be added to the buyer’s premium but will not be shown separately on our invoice.

Conditions of sale

Brought to you by

Claudio Corsi Specialist, Head of Department

ccorsi@christies.com +44 (0) 20 7389 2607

Lot Essay

The plaque depicts a head of Medusa, wearing a pendant necklace with three concentric rows of scales, increasing in size from top to bottom. There are two holes on the head for suspension. Similar plaques can be assigned to a well-known production from Centuripe, Sicily. They had an apotropaic function and served as oscilla, offerings meant to swing in the wind, and may have derived from metal prototypes. For a similar plaque, see no. 59, pp. 206-207, in M. L. Ferruzza, Ancient Terracottas from South Italy and Sicily in the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, 2016.

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