Source: New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art |
New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art has returned two more pieces of silver from the Lydian Hoard. They consist of a silver phiale (inv. 1980.11.13; Bothmer, Treasury no. 25) and a silver oinochoe (inv. 1980.11.16; Bothmer, Treasury no. 40). Both were purchased from the Classical Purchase Fund / The Bothmer Purchase Fund.
The history ("provenance") of the pieces is as follows:
Reputedly, collection of the family of Elizabeth Ebnöther, Zurich, Switzerland; [by 1980, with Galerie Nefer, Zurich]; acquired in 1980, purchased from Galerie Nefer. Deaccessioned for return to the Republic of Türkiye in June 2025.
The press release from the Manhattan DA notes the association with Frieda Tchacos.
The use of "reputedly" to link objects to specific collectors is similar to the "reportedly" used for pieces in the Stern Cycladicising collection (discussed in BMCR).