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Antiquities

Christie's New York

10 A.M., December 11, 2014

Sale 3403

Head


Lot 140, Alexander the Great, marble portrait head, Roman, circa 1st Century A.D., 12 inches high


By Carter B. Horsley

This Antiquities auction December 11, 2014 at Christie's New York is highlighted by a very fine Roman marble portrait head of Alexander the Great, a marvelous Piravend piece and an amusing mother and child sculpture as well as some attractive Roman and Egyptian works.

The cover illustration, shown above, is Lot 140, an impressive Roman marble portrait head of Alexander the Great circa 1st Century A.D.  It is 12 inches high.  It has an estimate of $700,000 to $900,000.  It sold for $2,045,000 including the buyer's premium as do all results mentioned in this article.

The sale total was $7,524,428 with 73 percent of the offered lots selling.


Piravend


Lot 82, Female figure, Piravend, circa 9th-8th Century B.C., bronze, 7 3/8 inches high

The best piece in the auction is Lot 82, a Piravend bronze female figure from circa 9th-8th Century B.C.  It is 7 3/8 inches high.  It was once with David David-Weill of Paris and the Merrin Gallery in New York.  With its knobby breasts and feet and huge head it is splendidly abstract and very impressive.  It has an estimate of $80,000 to $120,000.  It sold for $341,000.

Sardinian idol

Lot 85, Female idol, marble, Sardinian, Ozeri culture, circa 2500-2000 B.C., 13 3/4 inches high

A larger and considerably older female figure is Lot 85, Sardinian, Ozeri culture, circa 2500-2000 B.C.  The marble figure is 13 3/4 inches high. It is propperty of the Michael and Judy Steinhardt Collection and once was with the Merrin Gallery in New York.  Its face is featureless except for a long ridge for a nose.  It has an estimate of $800,000 to $1,200,000.  It failed to sell.

Mother and child

Lot 49, terracotta female figure, Egyptian, Second Intermediate Period, 1648-1550 B.C., 3 15/16 inches high

The most charming work in the auction is Lot 49, a seated Egyptian terracotta female figure clutching two small children, the Second Intermediate Period, 1648-1550 B.C.  It is 3 15/16 inches high.  It has an estimate of $15,000 to $20,000.  It sold for $18,750.


Falcon

Lot 34, falcon, bronze, Egyptian, Late Period to Ptolemaic Period, 664-30 B.C.,12 1/4 inches high

Lot 34 is a very fine Egyptian bronze falcon from the  Late Period to the Ptolemaic Period, 664-30 B.C.  It is 12 1/4 inches high.  It is very finely sculpted and has an opening for a now-missing mummy or votive "presumably once sealed in plaster.  It has an estimate of $100,000 to $150,000.  It sold for $317,000.


Baldy


Lot 78, Head of a Male Worshipper, gypsum, Mesopotamian, Syria, Early Dynastic III, circa 2500-2250 B.C., 6 5/8 inches high

Lot 78 is a Mesopatamian head of a male worshipper made out of gypsum, Syria, Early Dynastic III, circa 2500-2250 B.C.  It is 6 5/8 inches high.  It has an estimate of $80,000 to $120,000.  It sold for $100,000.



Gold pot

Lot 149, Olpe, bronze, Roman, circa Early 2nd Century A.D., 11 7/8 inches high

Lot 149 is an impressive Roman bronze Olpe from circa 2nd Century A.D.  It is 11 7/8 inches high.  It is decorated with a battle scene between Romans and Dacians in front of a fortified town.  It has an estimate of $500,000 to $700,000.  It failed to sell.


Hands up


Lot 10, Terracotta mourners, Boeotian, circa 600 B.C., 9 7/8 inches high


Lot 10 consists of two similar Boeotian terracotta mourners, circa 600 B.C.  They are 9 7/8 inches high and the perfect gift for grown-up children/collectors.  The lot has an estimate of $10,000 to $15,000.  It sold for $16,250.



Etruscan helmet

Lot 21, bronze warrior, Etruscan, from Umbria, circa 450-400 B.C., 8 1/2 inches high


Lot 21 is a magnificent Etruscan bronze warrior from Umbira, circa 450-400 B.C., with lively detail, especially in its large helmet.  It is 8 1/2 inches high.  It is missing its spear and left foot.  It has a modest estimate of $10,000 to $15,000.  It sold for $56,250.

Spear


Lot 81, "Smiting god," Canaanite, bronze, Late Bronze Age, circa 1550-1200 B.C., 8 3/8 inches high

Lot 81 is a bronze Canaanite figure of a smiting god from the Late Bronze Age, circa 1550-1200 B.C.  It is 8 3/8 inches high.  It is missing its spear.  It has an estimate of $80,000 to $120,000.  It sold for $100,000.


Female nude


Lot 138, Venus, Roman, marble, circa 1st Century B.C., 13 inches high

Lot 13 is a lovely Roman marble sculpture of Venus from circa 1st Century B.C.  It is 13 inches high.  It has an estimate of $40,000 to $60,000.  It sold for $50,000.


Mercury


Lot 141, Mercury, bronze, Roman, circa 1st Century A. D., 8 3/4 inches high

Lot 141 is a very fine Roman bronze of Mercury, circa 1st Century A.D.  It is 8 3/4 inches high.  It has an estimate of $50,000 to $70,000.  It failed to sell.


Skirt


Lot 20, Kore, Etruscan, Archaic Period, circa 500-480 B.C., bronze, 8 1/4 inches high

Lot 20 is a solid-cast bronze statuette of an Etruscan kore, Arcaic Period, circa 500-480 B.C., with her left hand pulling her skirt forward.  It is 8 1/4 inches high.  It has an estimate of $30,000 to $50,000.  It sold for $60,000.

Relief

Lot 160, Panel from a sarcophagus, marble, Roman, circa 180 A.D., 57 1/8 inches long

Lot 160 is a Roman marble sarcophagus panel, circa 180 A.D.  It is 57 1/8 inches long and was once in the collection of  Pierpont Morgan.  It has an estimate of $200,000 to $300,000.  It failed to sell.



Tomb


Lot 145, Roman table support, marble, circa 1st-2nd Century A.D., 27 1/4 inches wide

Lot 145 is a handsome Roman marble table support from circa the 1st-2nd Century A.D.  It is 27 1/4 inches wide.  It has an estimate of $100,000 to $150,000.  It failed to sell.

Torso

Lot 19, male torso, terracotta, Greek, Hellenistic Period, circa 4th-2nd Century B.C., 9 1/2 inches high

Lot 19 is a very fine Greek terracotta male torso from the Hellenistic Period, circa 4th-2nd Century B.C.  It is 9 1/2 inches high.  It has a modest estimate of $8,000 to $12,000.  It sold for $43,750.

Broken nose

Lot 154, Head of Mars, Roman, circa Late 1st-Early Second Century A.D., marble, 18 1/4 inches high

Lot 154 is an impressive Roman marble head of Mars, circa Late 1st-Early 2nd Century A.D.  It is 18 1/4 inches high.  It was once in the collection opf Sir Francis Sacheverell Darwin.  It has an estimate of $250,000 to $350,000.  It failed to sell.


Pharoah head

Lot 52, portrait head of a pharoah, possibly Tutankhamen, Egyptian, steatite, New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, 1391-1323 B.C., 1 1/4 inches high

Lot 52 is a finely detailed small Egyptian steatite portrait head of a pharaoh, New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, 1391-1323 B.C.  It is 1 1/4 inches high.  The catalogue states it might depict Tutankhamen.  It was once with
Charles D. Kelekian of New York and Lester Wolfe of New York.  It has an estimate of $40,000 to $60,000.  It sold for $50,000.



Cat



Lot 58, Wood cat coffin, Egyptian, 10 1/8 inches high

Lot 58 is an impressive Egyptian wood cat coffin from the Late Period 664-30 B.C.  It is 10 1/8 inches  high.  It has an estimate of $12,000 to $18,000.  It sold for $17,500.


Kneeling


Lot 30, Maat, bronze, Egyptian, Third Intermediate Period to Late Period, 21st to 26th Dynasty, 1070-525 B.C., 7 1/8 inches high

Lot 30 is a good Egyptian bronze of a seated Maat from the Third Intermediate to Late Period, 21st to 26th Dynasty, 1070-525 B.C.  It is 7 1/8 inches high.  It has an estimate of $20,000 to $30,000.  It sold for $30,000.


Staff

Lot 4, Figure of a man, Egyptian, copper alloy, New Kingdom, Early 18th Dynasty, circa 1550-1479 B.C., 5 1/4 inches high

Lot 4 is a nice Egyptian copper alloy figure of a man with a staff from the New Kingdom, Early 18th Dynasty, circa 1550-1479 B.C.  It is 5 1/4 inches high.  It has an estimate of $15,000 to $20,000.  It sold for $149,000!




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