Parthian Terracotta Statuette Group
3rd century B.C. Hollow-formed, comprising: a rider on a rearing horse with chlamys extended in the wind, and wearing wide Persian trousers (saravara), red pigment in the field; Zeus enthroned, facing with an eagle at his feet, hole to the reverse. Cf. Bel, N., Giroire, C., Gombert, F., Rutschowscaya, M.H., L'Orient romain et byzantin au Louvre, Arles / Paris, 2012, p.224, fig.205, for identical cavalryman (Louvre AO 10221). 598 grams total, 15.5 cm each (6 1/4 in.).

Ex private European collection. with Genève Enchères, 14 December 2017, lot 863.

The costume of Parthian nobles consisted of a tunic or wrapped jacket, trousers and boots/footwear, generally typical of a riding dress. Interestingly, the right side of the tunic was knee-length (such as those seen om early Sassanian noblemen depicted in the Persepolis graffiti) but the left side of the tunic, for many Parthian cavalrymen, appeared shorter and only reached to the upper thigh. [2] For this specific lot, 5% import VAT is applicable on the hammer price