Lot 95, female dancer, Greek, marble, 14 1/4 inches high, Hellenistic Period, circa late 4th-3rd Century B.C.

By Carter B. Horsley

This June 10, 2010 auction of Antiquities at Christie's in New York is highlighted by several extremely beautiful marble figures of women and some excellent Egyptian works.

Perhaps the most beautiful work is Lot 95, a 14 1/4-inch-high Greek marble figure of a female dance from the Hellenistic Period, circa late 4th-3rd Century B.C.  The work has a great deal of grace and elegance and  a very conservative estimate of $50,000 to $70,000.  It sold for $86,500.

Lot 108, Aphrodite, marble, Greek, Hellenistic Period, circa 2nd Century B.C., 23 1/4 inches high

A larger marble Greek statue of Aphrodite, Lot 108, is also exceedingly beautiful although missing her arms.  It is from the Hellenistic Period, circa 2nd Century B.C.  It is 23 1/4 inches high.  It has a conservative estimate of $60,000 to $90,000.  It sold for $74,500.

Lot 109, Aphrodite, bust, marble, Greek, Hellenistic Period, circa 3rd-2nd Century B.C., 11 3/8 inches high

Lot 109 is a good-size bust of an equally beautiful Aphrodite from about the same Greek period.  It is 11 3/8 inches high.   When it was offered at Christie's in New York December 9, 2005, it had a modest estimate of $60,000 to $80,000 and it sold for $240,000.  This time is has a modest estimate of $150,000 to $250,000.  It failed to sell.

Lot 117, Aphrodite with Eros, Greek, marble, 19 inches high, Late Hellenistic Period, circa 1st Century B.C.

Lot 117 is a very nice marble sculpture of Aphrodite with Eros  that is Greek, Late Hellenistic Period, circa 1st Century B.C.  It is 19 inches high and the goddess is missing her two arms.  It has an estimate of $40,000 to $60,000.  It failed to sell.

Lot 75,  Greek bronze statue of Minotaur, 4 inches, Archaic Period, circa 520-500 B.C.

Lot 114,  Aphrodite wearing the helmet of Ares, bronze fulcrum terminal, Greek, Hellenistic Period,, circa 3rd-2nd Century B.C., 8 1/2 inches high

The perfect complement to Lot 95, the Greek marble female dancer, is Lot 149, a smaller Roman bronze figure of Venus adorned with several gold attachments.  Dated circa the 2nd Century A.D., the graceful work is 8 inches high.  It has a modest estimate of $25,000 to $35,000.  It sold for $40,000.

Lot 127, portrait mable head of a man, Roman, Late Republican Period, circa mid 1st Century B.C., 9 3/4 inches high

 Lot 127 is a superb Roman marble portrait head of a man from the Late Republican Period, circa mid 1st Century B.C.  It is 9 3/4 inches high.  It has a conservatuve estunate of $70,000 to $90,000. It sold for $86,500.

Lot 131, Lamp Stand, Roman, bronze, 31 1/2 inches high, circa late 1st Century B.C.

Lot 131 is an impressive Roman bronze lamp stand from circa 1st Century B.C.  It is 31 1/2 inches high and the catalogue notes that it may depict Alexander Helios, the son of Mark Antony and Cleopatra VIII dressed in Eastern attire  It has an estimate of $800,000 to $1,200,000.  It sold for $1,142,500.

Lot 153, relief panel, marble, Roman, Antonine Period, circa 160 A.D., 77 inches long

Lot 153 is a good Roman marble relief panel that depicts a centauromachy witth the lapiths and Centaurs engage in a battle at the wedding of Perithoos and Hippodameia, the Greek warriors all depicted nude, the half-equine maonsters all bearded, the volent scene framed by two draped female onlookers, perhaps wedding guests.  The scene was popular and portrayed on several very prominent sites. It uis 77 inches long.  It has an estimate of $400,000 to $600,000.  It sold for $530,500.

Lot 55, mummy mask of a woman, painter plaster, Egyptian, Roman Period, circa 1st Century A.D., 14 inches high

One of the auction's most striking works is Lot 55, a painted plaster mummy mask of a woman that is Egyptian Roman Period, circa 1st Century A.D.  It is 14 inches high and has a highly stylized  coiffure.  It has an estimate of $30,000 to $40,000. It sold for $47,500.

Lot 38 is an exquisite diorite head of an official that is Egyptian, Late Period, Dynasty XXX, 380 to 343 B.C.  It is 8 1/2 inches high.  it has an estimate of $500,000 to $700,000. It sold for $842,500.

Lot 49, bust of an official, Egyptian, black granite, 13 1/2 inches high, Dynasty XXX to Early Ptolemanic Period, circa 4th-Early 3rd Century B.C.

Lot 49 is a very fine and impressive Egyptian black granite bust of an official, Dynasty XXX to Early Ptolemaic Period, circa 4th-Early 3rd Century B.C.  It is 13 1/2 inches high.  The blackness of the stone and the calm visage of the depicted official and his pose give this work a superb monumentality, made all the more memorable by the sheerness of his missing left side. The lot has a conservative estimate of $180,000 to $280,000. It failed to sell.

Lot 41, Egyptian granite head of a goddess or lady, Late New Kingdom to Third Intermediate Period, Dynasty XIX-XXII, 1307-712 B.C., 9 inches high

Lot 41 is a very good Egyptian granite head of a goddess or lady, Late New Kingdom to Third Intermediate Period, Dynasty XIX-XXII, 1307-712 B.C.  It is 9 inches high and unlike Lot 49 the face is not in perfect condition and has a smashed nose.  The lot has an estimate of $70,000 to $90,000.  It sold for $86,500.

Lot 10, bronze figure, Canaanite, circa 12th Century B.C., 9 3/8 inches high

Lot 10 is very tall and thin Canaanite bronze figure, circa 12th Century B.C., that is easily rivals any stick figures by Giacometti.  It is 9 3/87 inches high.  The catalogue notes that the figure relates to the Negbi's "Ugarit" group, distinguished by the flat silhouettes, elongated faces, and beaked noses.  Many of the group, as with the present example were once entirely coated in silver sheet.  The lot has a very conservatie estimate of  $12,000 to $18,000.  It sold for $37,500.

Lot 5, Bactrian bronze axe head with conjoined ibexes, 9 3/4 inches long, circa Late 3rd-Early 2nd Millennium B.C.