Circa 200 BC A beautifully defined Hellenistic silver beaker with globular body and pedestal foot, decorated with a stylised handle in the form of an outstretched lion. For similar see: J. Paul Getty Museum, which is wider at the lip and not embellished with incised details, no. 80 in M. Pfrommer, Metalwork from the Hellenized East. The bands of wave pattern, often gilt, as seen on the cup presented here, aremon on silver vessels, particularly bowls, from the eastern fringes of the Hellenistic world (see for example no. 14 in Pfrommer, op. cit.). For pairs of seated griffins of similar style on a gilt silver bowl see no. 32 in R. Masov, et al., Treasures of Ancient Bactria. Size: L:155mm / W:130mm; 470g Provenance: Property of a London Gallery; formerly in the private collection of H.G; Acquired in Belgium in 2003; previously in 1970s European collection.