Lot 37. A Cycladic marble figure, Early Spedos Type, Early Cycladic II, 2700-2300 B.C.; 22.5cm high. Sold for £279,800. © Bonhams 2025

Provenance: Prof. Nelson Goodman (1906-1998) Collection.
with Bronson-Rollins & Associates Inc., Los Angeles.
The property of an American private collector, acquired from the above in 1987 (with a letter from Pat Getz-Preziosi to Mark Bronson dated 1 February 1987, in which she incorrectly identifies this Cycladic figure as the one she saw in 1966 or 1967, at the time owned by Prof Nelson Goodman. The above lot is a different example. Pat Getz-Preziosi attributed the above lot to a small group of six figures in closely similar style originating from one sculptor's hand. For another example, referencing this group, cf. J. Thimme, Art and Culture of the Cyclades in the Third Millennium B.C., Chicago, 1977, no.131 p.460 and p.253.

Published: Pat Getz-Preziosi included the above figure in her Ph.D. dissertation, (P.G. Preziosi, Traditional Canon and Individual Hand in Early Cycladic Sculpture, Dissertation, Harvard University, Cambridge , unpubl. 1972, pp.70ff), where she studied it in 1966 or 1967, when it belonged to Philosophy Professor Nelson Goodman at Brandeis University and subsequently Harvard University.

Pat Getz-Preziosi attributed the above lot to a small group of six figures in closely similar style originating from one sculptor's hand. For another example referencing this group, cf. J. Thimme, Art and Culture of the Cyclades in the Third Millennium B.C., Chicago, 1977, no.131 p.460 and p.253.

Lot 30. An imposing and heavy bronze ceremonial axe with decorated blade, Scandinavia, Early Bronze Age circa 1600-1500 B.C.; 42cm long. Sold for £70,250 . © Bonhams 2025

Provenance: With Robert Haber & Associates Inc., New York.
The property of an American private collector, acquired from the above, 24 March 1997.

Note: The flanged flaring blade decorated on both sides of the blade and the side flanges, with an intricate spiral repeat pattern, the cylindrical shaft-hole with raised collar on both sides, incised banding between and encircling the cylindrical shaft between the butt, with disc and high domed butt, the dome decorated with encircling bands and spiral repeat patterns. For the type, cf Oscar Montelius, Minnen från vår forntid, ordnade och beskrifna , Stockholm 1917, p.57, especially figs. 870, 873 & 874.

Lot 132. A Greek bronze hydria, circa 5th-4th Century B.C.; 46.4cm high. Sold for £35,840. © Bonhams 2025

Provenance: K.H. Oedekoven Collection, Germany, 1965.
with Ariadne Galleries, New York and London, acquired from the above in 1998.
Anonymous sale; Christie's New York, Antiquities, June 3 2009, lot 123 (unsold).
Acquired by the current owner from Ariadne Galleries, 5 January 2015.

Note: Though the primary use of hydriai was to draw and carry water, the vessels were also used as cinerary urns, votive offerings in temples, and even sometimes ballot boxes due to their large bodies and small mouths. On this example, the appliqué of a running Nike at the base of the vertical handle could suggest the hydria was presented to the victor of an athletic contest; hammered out of sheet bronze, it is an appealing prize.

Lot 132. An Egyptian limestone relief with an ox and a driver, Old Kingdom, 5th-6th Dynasty, circa 2450-2181 B.C.; 42cm high, 62cm wide. Sold for £28,160. © Bonhams 2025

Provenance: Swiss private collection.
with Galerie Wey, Lucerne.
M. Wirz-Oeler Collection, acquired from the above 7 May 1986.
with Robert R. Bigler Asian and Egyptian Art, Zurich.
The property of a Swiss private collector, acquired from the above, 4 November 2010.
Accompanied by a short paper on the relief by Prof. Peter A. Kaplony, dated 3 March 1986.

Lot 127. A Greek bronze griffin protome, Circa 7th Century B.C.; 20.6cm high, ears restored. Sold for £28,160. © Bonhams 2025

Provenance: American private collection, acquired in the late 1980s.
Anonymous sale; Gorny & Mosch, Munich, Kunst der Antike, 25 June 2014, 222 lot 30.
with Ariadne Galleries, New York and London, acquired from the above sale.
Acquired by the current owner from the above, 5 January 2015.

Note: A mythical hybrid creature made of the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle, the griffin was respected for its apotropaic power. This fearsome example, with its distinctively pointed ears and sharp tongue, is of a type which were likely once attachments on large bronze vessels; see the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, acc.no.59.11.18 for another.

Lot 44. A Greek bronze Illyrian helmet, Archaic Period, circa 500-420 B.C.; 25cm high. Sold for £25,600. © Bonhams 2025

Provenance: with Sakai Art Gallery, Japan, 1981.
London art market.
Anonymous sale; Bonhams London, Antiquities, 6 July 2017, lot 101.
Private English collection, acquired at the above sale.

Note: The entire crest area is raised with an angled neck guard, the cheek-pieces taper inward, the pseudo-rivet border extends around the edge of the entire helmet.

Illyrian helmets were produced between 650 and 400 B.C. by armour smiths in the Peloponnese and later Macedonia. Design details such as the raised crest line served to strengthen the helmet and deflect blows. The riveted borders kept in place an integral inner lining that was later replaced with a soft cap worn beneath the helmet and the superfluous rivets were replaced with punch decorated borders of similar appearance. For a discussion of the regional developments of the Illyrian helmet see R. Hixenbaugh, Ancient Greek Helmets: A Complete Guide and Catalog, New York, 2019, pp.201-209 and pp.331-341 for similar examples.

Bonhams. Antiquities, London, New Bond Street, 3 July 2025