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Antiquities

Sotheby's New York

6:30 PM, December 8, 2011

Sale 8810


Leda and the Swan


Lot 16, Leda and the Swan, Roman Imperial, circa 2nd Century A.D., marble, 53 1/4 inches high


By Carter B. Horsley

Although it was one of the smallest antiquities auctions at Sotheby's in many years, this December 8, 2011 auction in New York was extremely successful with 58 of 69 offered lots selling for a total of $27,588,375.

Lot 15, a Roman Imperial marble sculpture of Leda and the Swan, circa 2nd Century A.D., was the top lot.  Despite its considerable breaks, it had an estimate of $2,000,000 and $3,000,000.  It sold to an anonymous buyer for $19,122,500, including the buyer's premium as do all results mentioned in this article.  The 53 1/4 inch high statue was property of the 3rd Marquess of Zetland Will Trust and it had been acquired in Romefrom Lawrence Morison, son of Colin Morison, the art dealer and antiquarian, in 1788-9 by Sir Thomas Dundas Bt. (1741-1820), later 1st Lord Dundas of Aske of Aske Hall in North Yorkshire.

Detail of Leda

Detail of Lot  16


The statue is the back cover illustration of this auction's catalogue that notes that "among the known Roman copies of Timotheos' Leda and the Swan, the present example, with the original head and right arm still attached and a good portion of the left arm and drapery remaining, stands as one of the best preserved.  Only three other copies have unbroken head and their overall condition is not as good.


Horned man


Lot 12,  Head of Zeus Ammon, marble, Roman  Imperial, circa A.D. 120-160, 19 inches high

Lot 12, an  impressive marble head  of Zeus Ammon, Roman Imperial, circa  A.D. 120-160, has an estimate of  $800,000 to $1,200,000.  It is 19 inches high.  It is property of the Collection of Dodie Rosenkrans.  It was bought by the Metropolitan Museum of Art for $3,554,500.  The catalogue notes that the head "is one of the most striking and sensitively carved known representations of the tutelary deity of Alexander the Great," adding that "the cult center of the Greco-Egyptian godZeus-Ammon as at the Oasis of Siwa, in the Libyan desert."

Male torso

Lot 14, marble torso of a man, 1st/2nd Century, A.D., 26 3/4 inches high

Lot 14 is a very impressive marble torso of a man after a Greek work by Polykleitos of the mid 5th Century B.C.  It is dated 1st/2nd Century A.D., and is 26 3/4 inches high.  It has an estimate of $80,000 to $120,000.  It sold for $194,500.


Sliced head

Lot 23, head of a Hellenistic prince, circa 1st Century B.C./1st Century A.D., marble, 18 inches high

Lot 23 is an impressive, damaged, marble head of a Hellenistic Prince, circa 1st Century B.C./1st Century A.D.  It is 18 inches high and was once with Robin Symes Ltd. in London and exhibited at the Ashmolean Museum at Oxford.  It has an estimate of $200,000 to $300,000.  It sold for $602,500.


Mercury

Lot 11, Head of Hermes, marble, Roman, circa 1st Century A.D., 6 5/8 inches high


Lot 11 is a very nice, slightly damaged Roman marble head of Hermes circa 1st Century A.D.  It is 6 5/8 inches high.  It has an estimate of $30,000 to $50,000.  It sold for $50,000.


Long haired woman


Lot 24, Portrait head of Antonia the Younger, Roman Imperial, Reign of Claudius, marble, circa A. D. 50, 16 inches high


Lot 24 in an impressive marble portrait head of Antonia The Younger, Roman Imperial, reign of Claudius, circa A.D. 50.  The marble head, whose nose is damaged, is 16 inches high.  It has an estimate of $80,000 to $120,000.  It sold for $194,500.

Cupid

Lot 15, groupof Eros and Anteros, marble, 30 1/2 inches high, the figures Roman imperial, circa 1st CenturyA.D.,combined as a groupin he 16th Century

Lot 15 is an almost too lovely marble statue of Eros and a smaller marble figure of Anteros.  The group is 30 1/2 inches high.  The catalogue entry says thata the figures were carved spearately and later inserted into the base and that they are Roman Imperial, circa 1st Century AD., and combined as a group in the 16th Century when they were in the collection of Fabio Baveri in Rome.  The lot has a modest estimate of $50,000 to $80,000.  It sold for $134,500.


Man and eagle

Lot 17, Figure of Jupiter, Gallo-Roman, limestone, circa 3rd/4th Century A.D., 48 1/2 inches high

Lot 17 is a 48 1/2-inch high Gallo-Roman  limestone statue of Jupiter, circa 3rd/4th Century A.D.  It has an estimate of $30,000 to $50,000.  It sold for $80,500.



Dancer


Lot 20, figure of a musician, Hellenistic, probably Alexandria, 2nd/1st Century B.C., bronze, 3 15/16 inches high

Lot 20 is a very graceful and lovely bronze figure of a musician, probably a flute-player, that is Hellenistic, probably Alexandria, 2nd/1st Century B.C.  It is 3 15/16 inches high.  It has a modest estimate of $12,000 to $18,000.  It sold for $16,250.


Angel


Lot 51, figure of kneeling Nike, Roman, 1st/2nd Century A.D., bronze, 2 1/2 inches high

Lot 51 is a very lovely and fine small Roman bronze figure of kneeling Nike, 1st/2nd Century A.D.  It is 2 1/2 inches high and is being sold with a Roman bronze bust of a satyr that is 4 inches high.  The lot has a modest estimate of $5,000 to $8,000.  It sold for $5,000.


Egyptian woman    Detail of Egyptian woman

Lot 36, figure of a woman, limestone, Egyptian, Later Ptolemaic/Early Roman Period, circa 2nd/1st Century B.C., 25 3/4 inches high

Lot 36 is a very beautiful and impressive Egyptian limestone figure of a woman, Later Ptolemaic/Early Roman Period, circa 2nd/1st Century B.C.  It has remains of gesso and trace of pigment.  It is 25 3/4 inches high.  It has a modest estimate of $60,000 to $90,000.  It sold for $134,500.





Blue Shabti

Lot 42, Egyptian ushabti of Psamtik, God's father, born to Seba-Rekhyet, 26th Dynasty, probably reign of Amasis, 570-526 B.C., 7 1/4 inches high

Lot 42 is a very find bright blue faience Egyptian ushabti of Psamtik, God's father, born to Seba-Rekhyet, 26th Dynasty, probably reign of Amasis, 570-526 B.C.  It is 7 1/4 inches high.  It has an modest estimate of $12,000 to $18,000. It sold for $31,250.



Mummy mask

Lot 62, wood mask, Egyptian, 21st Dynasty, 1075-944 B.C., 9 inches high

Lot 62 is a very nice Egyptian wood mask from the 21st Dynasty (1075-944 B.C.).  It is 9 inches high and has an estimate of $5,000 to $8,000.  It sold for $5,000.


Horus



Lot 37, canopic jar lid, Egyptian, alabaster Late Period, 716-30 B.D.,7 1/8 inches high

Lot 37 is a very impressive Egyptian alabaster canopic jar lid from the Late Period, 716-30 B.C.  It is 7 1/8 inches high.  The catalogue entry suggests it is from the burial "equipment" of a Sacred Memphite Apis Bull, in the form of falcon-headed Qebusenuf, guardian of the intestines.  It has a modest estimate of $8,000 to $12,000.  It sold for $34,375.


Tuthmosis

Lot 33, Head of Tuthmosis III, Egyptian, black basalt, 18th Dynasty, 1479-1426 B.C., 7 3/4 inches high

Lot 33 is a good Egyptian black basalt head of Tuthmosis III, 18th Dynasty, 1479-1426 B.C.  It is 7 3/4 inches high and is missing its nose.  It once belonged to Rex Ingram, the movie director.  It is property of the Collection of Dodie Rosenkrans.  It has a estimate of $150,000 to $250,000  It sold for $602,500.


Egyptian head 2


Lot 35, head of a king, Early Ptolemaic Period, reign of Ptolemy I/III, 304-200 B.C., probably Ptolemy II Philadelphos (285-246 B.C.), 10 1/4 inches high


Another Egyptian basalt head from the Collection of Dodie Rosenkrans that also was once in the collection of Rex Ingram is Lot 35, a head of a king, probably Ptolemy II Philadelphos (285-246 B.C.).  It is 10 1/4 inches high and has an estimate of $100,000 to $150,000.  It sold for $392,500.

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See The City Review article on the Spring 2010 Antiquities auction at Christie's


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See The City Review article on the Fall 2009 Antiquities auction at Sotheby's

See The City Review article on the Spring 2009 Antiquities auction at Christie's

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See The City Review article on the Fall 2008 Antiquities auction at Sotheby's

See The City Review article on the Spring 2008 Antiquities auction at Christie's

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See The City Review article on the Spring 2007 Antiquities auction at Sotheby's

See The City Review article on the Spring 2007 Antiquities auction at Christie's

See The City Review article on the Fall 2006 Antiquities auction at Christie's

See The City Review Article on the Fall 2006 Antiquities auction at Sotheby's

See The City Review article on the Spring 2006 Antiquities auction at Sotheby's

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See The City Review article on the Charles Pankow Collection of Egyptian Art auction December 8, 2004, at Sotheby's

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See The City Review article on the Fall 2004 Antique Jewelry Auction at Christie's

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See The City Review on the Spring 2004 Antiquities morning auction at Christie's

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See The City Review article on the Fall 2003 Antiquities auction at Christie's

See The City Review article on the Fall 2003 Antiquities auction at Sotheby's

See The City Review article on the Spring 2003 Antiquities auction at Christie's

See The City Review article on the Spring 2003 Antiquities auction at Sotheby's

See The City Review article on the Fall 2002 Antiquities auction at Sotheby's

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See The City Review article on the June 12, 2002 Antiquities auction at Christie's

See The City Review article on the Fall 2001 Antiquities auction at Christie's

See The City Review article on the Fall 2001 Antiquities auction at Sotheby's

See The City Review article on the Spring 2001 Antiquities auction at Christie's

See The City Review article on the Spring 2001 Antiquities auction at Sotheby's

See The City Review article on the Fall 2000 Antiquities auction at Christie's

See The City Review article on the Antiquities auction at Sotheby's Dec. 8, 2000

See The City Review article on the Dec. 6, 2000 auction of Ancient Jewelry and Seals at Christie's

See The City Review article on the Spring 2000 Antiquities auction at Sotheby's

See The City Review article on the Spring 2000 Ancient Greek Vases auction at Christie's

See The City Review article on the Spring 2000 Antiquities auction at Christie's

See The City Review article on the Fall 1999 Antiquities auction at Christie's

See The City Review article on the Antique Jewelry evening auction at Christies Dec. 8, 1999

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