Object Description

Etruscan Bronze Votive Figure

Standing with cloak wrapped tightly around the body, the left leg flexed; the right hand raised. Dark olive green patina. Right foot restored.

Identification Date

01 Oct 2019

Identification Location

Royal-Athena Galleries, New York

Artefact History

Before 1995

One regular-print image, depicting the same figure among other bronze antiquities, suggests that the antiquities dealer Giacomo Medici was in possession of this artefact. The image was discovered by Tsirogiannis in the archive confiscated from the antiquities dealer Giacomo Medici.

Three professional images, depicting the same figure, suggest that the antiquities dealers Robin Symes and Christos Michaelides were in possession of this artefact. The images were discovered by Tsirogiannis in the archive confiscated from the Papadimitriou family (relatives of Christos Michaelides) in Schinousa island, Greece, in April 2006.

06 Jul 1995

The same figure appears for sale in the Sotheby’s antiquities auction in London, on july 6, 1995, as lot 131. It was bought by Jerome Eisenberg, owner of the Royal-Athena Galleries, New York. 

2019

The bowl appeared in the website of the Royal-Athena Galleries, with the provenance ‘Acquired at Sotheby’s, London, June 1995. Ex J. M. E. collection, New York’. 

October 2019

Tsirogiannis identifies the bowl in October 2019 and in 2021 publishes an article referring also to other appearances of the same figure in past Royal-Athena Galleries catalogues (Tsirogiannis 2021).

Artefact Status

Unknown. Royal-Athena Galleries was permanently closed in October 2020 announcing that the remaining artefacts were transferred to ‘Hixenbaugh Ancient Art’.