Watch List notes:

North Italian (16th century), Head of Athena (?), bronze plaquette, cuirassed and helmeted bust left with an aegis on her chest, the helmet bowl decorated with a horseman fighting a naked man on foot, and with a grotesque male head appearing above the visor, the visor itself in the form of a dolphin's head, the crest in the form of a spiny sea-serpent, the reverse incised ALEXANDER MAGNVS, 82mm, twice pierced, some cracks and with a tiny hole, an extremely fine contemporary cast Ex Alain Edrei (1931-2021) collection, Paris [inventory number 188 in red on reverse]; ex Morton & Eden, 5 June 2013, lot 630. The head is doubtless inspired by the gold staters of Alexander the Great bearing the helmeted head of Athena, although always facing right. The plaquette seems to be unpublished and might form part of a group of early 16th century medals with composite portraits which may have influenced the artist Arcimboldo (see Waddington, R B, "Before Arcimboldo", The Medal, 1989, p. 13ff).

Estimate: 700 - 1000 GBP