Gilded silver GOBELET reproducing the "Vaphio" goblet (no. 1 - Lot 394

Gilded silver GOBELET reproducing the "Vaphio" goblet (no. 1759). The body is adorned with tethered cattle being led peacefully by a man through a landscape. Goldsmith : Georges POMONIS Athens Greek work of the 20th century. H. 7 cm P. 283,5 g The two gold goblets on which our goblet is based were discovered in 1888 at Vaphio near Sparta, in a tholos tomb, by Christos Tsountas (our goblet is modelled on Goblet no. 1759). They date from 1600-1500 BC and were immediately considered masterpieces of Aegean art by scientists. On their walls, a narrative depicts the capture of wild bulls amidst trees and rocks. On the first goblet, the bull tries to escape, knocks over two men and ends up in a net. On the second, on the contrary, the bull is peacefully lured by a heifer and then tied up by one hind leg by a peasant. These could be transpositions from fresco subjects. They are preserved in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens and are the most perfect surviving works of Mycenaean or Minoan art. Expert | Florian Doux