A Greek Bronze Mirror, 4th Century B.C.

of circular form with ribbed concentric bands on the reverse, the handle in the form of winged Eros riding a dolphin and holding the dorsal fin with his left hand, his right hand resting on folds of drapery, his hair bound in a topknot, the eyes with remains of inlay, two inverted diminutive dolphins flanking the wings.

Denys Sutton (1917-1991), London, acquired between 1957 and 1972
by descent to the present owner

Disk: Very brittle, several cracks have been overpainted and a small area perhaps formerly restored is now missing as visible in photograph, there may be other small losses that have been restored under the layer of paint, rim is abraded and corroded Handle: slightly worn overall, dorsal fins of flanking dolphins missing, one still restored, face of Eros further worn and with inlay material remaining in one eye, small stress fracture across the bridge of his nose and across upper left temple.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

Cf. E. Babelon and J.A. Blanchet, Catalogue des bronzes antiques de la Bibliothèque Nationale, Paris, 1895, no. 1349; also compare P.C. Bol, Liebighaus, Guide to the Collection, Ancient Art, Frankfurt am Main, 1981, p. 69, fig. 91, thought to be from Locri.

Denys Miller Sutton (1917-1991) assumed the role of editor of the London-based arts magazine Apollo in 1962, and retained this position for about 25 years, during which he considerably expanded the scope of the publication, addressing sensitive art preservation issues, attracting new contributors among prominent art historians and writers, writing many articles himself, and devoting several issues to the collections of museums around the world. His strong and unrelenting interest in the visual arts was a lifelong pursuit: he served as secretary of the international commission for the restitution of cultural material after World War II, worked as an art critic for Country Life and the Financial Times, authored several books on painting, including works on Watteau, Toulouse-Lautrec, Matisse, Picasso, and Whistler, and organized several exhibitions abroad such as shows on Constable and Titian in Tokyo. The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (vol. 53, Oxford, 2003, p. 382) describes him as an "astute collector of art."