Detail of Lot
598
The lot has a very modest
estimate of $4,000 to $6,000. It sold for $11,875 including the
buyer's premium as do all results mentioned in this article.
The auction sold 70
percent of the 193 offered lots for a total of $8,178,213.
Lot 648,
Venus, Roman, Asia Minor, terracotta, circa 3rd Century B.C., 21 1/8
inches high
Another
Venus, only Roman, Asia Minor, is Lot 648, a 3rd Century B.C.
terracotta that is 21 1/8 inches high and is surrounded by two cherubs
on each side. The goddess is at her toilette. A
similar
example isat the Ashmolean Museum. The lot has an estimate of
$10,000 to $15,000. It
failed to sell.
Lot 637,
Venus, Roman, marble, 47 inches high, circa 2nd Century A.D.
A
much more substantial Roman Venus is Lot 637, a marble statue that is
47 inches high from circa 2nd Century A.D. She is shown with
a
winged cupid standing on a dolphin at her side. The catalogue
notes that this is probably copied from a Greek original of the 4th
Century B.C., likely the Knidian Aphrodite of Praxiteles. It is known
as the de Clercq Venus after Louis de Clercq (1836-1901) of Paris who
owned it. At the June 16, 2006 auction of Antiquities at Christie's in
New York, it was offered with an estimate of $300,000 to
$500,000, but was passed at $280,000.
This time it has an estimate of $250,000 to
$350,000. It
failed to sell.
Lot 629,
Cupid and Psyche, Roman, marble, circa 1st Century A.D., 30 7/8 inches
high
Another
major Roman marble is Lot 629, Cupid and Psyche, from circa 1st Century
A.D. It is 30 7/8 inches high and has a very impressive
provenance. It was owned by Sir William Hamilton of Naples
and
London, whose wife was in love with Lord Nelson and was played by
Vivien Leigh in the move, "That Hamilton Woman," and then by Thomas
Hope of London and Deepdene, and then by William Randolph Hearst of New
York. and then by D. M. Blair of Richmond, Va. The catalogue
notes that her body below the breast composed of118th Century
restorations, likely based on a similar example in the Capitoline
Museums. The heads of both figures were obviously at some
point
separated from their bodies but the pose is still extremely sexy as
Cupid holds the backof her head with his left hand and places his right
hand on her left shoulder and the consumation of the kiss seems very
imminent and electric.
Detail of Lot
629
The
lot, which is illustrated on the rear cover of the catalogue with a
view from the back, has a very modest estimate of $100,000 to
$150,000. It
sold for $483,750.
Lot 606,
Aphrodite, Greek, marble, Hellenistic Period, circa 2nd-1st Century
B.C., 21 inches high
Lot
606 is a very graceful headless marble Greek sculpture of Aphrodite
from the Hellenistic Period, circa 2nd-1st Century D.C. It is
21
inches high. It has a modest estimate of $30,000 to $50,000. It sold for $32,500.
Lot
625, "Venus, Roman, marble, 65 1/4 inches, circa 1st Century A.D.
Another
Roman marble of Venus is Lot 625. It is 65 1/4 inches high
and
circa 1st Century A.D. She is headless but the folds and
drapery
of her dress are so wonderful it is relatively easy to miss her head.
The
sculpture has a very graceful pose and very
beautiful modeling of her drapery. The catalogue notes that the
sculpture is a variation of the so-called Aphrodite Frejus or Venus
Genetrix and was pased on a late 5th Century B.C. Greek prototype.
Julius Caesar built a temple in her honor in his Roman forum
in
45 B.C. It is 65 1/4 inches high and
had an estimate of $150,000 to $250,000 when it was offered at
Christie's in New York December 10, 2004. It then sold for
$197,900. At
this auction it has an estimate of $250,000 to
$350,000.
It sold for $447,750.
Lot 620,
Venus, marble, Roman, circa 1st Century A.D., 8 1/2 inches high
Lot 620 is a headless,
armless and lower legless Roman marble Venus from circa 1st Century
A.C. It is 8 1/2 inches high and is very handsomely sculpture
in apparently flawless marble. It has an estimate of $15,000
to $20,000. It
sold for $15,000.
Lot 619, head
of a goddess, Roman, marble, circa 1st Century A.D., 4 7/8 inches high
Another
lovely small Roman marble is Lot 619, the head of a goddess that is 4
7/8 inches high. It is 4 7/8 inches high. It has a
modest estimate of $7,000 to $9,000. It failed to sell.
Lot 641,
Hermaphrodite, Roman, marble, circa 2nd Century A.D., 43 5/16 inches long
Lot 641 is a very impressive
Roman marble sculpture of a reclining Hermaphrodite from circa 2nd
Century A.D. It is 43 5/16 inches long. William
Fitzmaurice, Earl of Shelburne, Marquis of Landsdowne, (1737-1805),
bought the sculpture from Gavin Hamilton for 40 pounds. The
catalogue notes that he had it restored, "most likely by Bartolomeo
Cavaceppi (1716-1799) before shipping it to London." The
catalogue reproduces a drawing that illustrates a complete figure
reclining on a rocky plinth and after its sale at Sotheby's in London
April 10, 1978, some of the 18th Century restorations were removed,
"most significantly the lower legs and feet, and it was set into a new,
rustically finished base recalling rthe work of the sculptor
Auguste Rodin." The catlaogue also notes that the ancient
head is not original to the sculpture. The lot has a modest
estimate of $120,000 to $180,000. It sold for $135,750.
Lot 610,
torso of Apollo, marble, Roman, circa 1st Century B.C.-1st Century
A.D., 34 1/2 inches high
The cover illustration of the
catalogue is Lot 610, a beautiful Roman marble torso of Apollo circa
1st Century B.C.-1st Century A.D. It is 34 1/2 inches high.
It is property of the collection of Mona Ackerman.
It has an estimate of $200,000 to $300,000. It sold for
$195,750.
Lot 631,
Emperor Antonious Pius, Roman marble portrait, head, reign 138-161
A.D., 34 inches high
Lot
631 is a very fine Roman marble portrait bust of Emperior Antonious
Pius, whose reign was 138 to 161 A.D. It is 34 inches high.
Antonious's adoptive father was Emperor Hadrian and his
devotion to his father led the Senate to call him Pius. There
are now more than 140 examples of portrait busts of the emperor thought
to have been developed to celebrate his decennalia (10-year reign
anniversary), accordng to the catalogue. The lot has an
estimate of $80,000 to $120,000. It sold for $81,250.
Lot 642,
Portrait of a Man, marble, Roman, circa 225-250 A.D., 10 1/2 inches high
Lot
642 is a very good Roman marble portrait of a man, circa 225-250 A.D.
It is10 1/2 inches high. It has an estimate of $70,000 to
$90,000. It
failed to sell.
Lot 623,
"Harpokrates," bronze, Roman, circa 1st-2nd Century A.D., 3 3/8 inches
high
Lot
623 is a charming small Roman bronze from circa 1st-2nd Century A.D. of
Harpokrates. It is 3 3/8 inches high. The figure is
seated. It has an estimate of $20,000 to $30,000. It failed to sell.
Lot 652,
Mosaic panel, Roman, circa 3rd-4th Century A.D. 53 1/4 inches long
Lot
652 is a delightful Roman mosaic panel of a nude Cupid hunting a dear.
It is circa 3rd-4th Century A.D. and 53 1/4 inches long
It has an esitmate of $30,000 to $40,000. It sold for $30,000.
Lot 646,
bronze disk, Roman, circa 3rd-4th Century A.D., 4 1/2 inches in diameter
Lot
646 is a handsome Roman bronze dish depicting the Rape of Europa that
is circa 3rd-4th Century A.D. It is 4 1/2 inches in diameter
and the catalogue suggests it was possibly a furniture attachment.
It has an estimate of $6,000 to $8,000 It failed to sell.
Lot 613,
fulcrum terminal, bronze, Roman, circa 1st Century B.C.-1st Century
A.D., 13 1/4 inches high
One of the auction's most
dramatic pieces is Lot 613, a very finely made Roman bronze fulcrum
terminal topped by a mule protome with flaring nostrils and agape
mouth. It is dated circa 1st Century B.C.-1st Century A.D.,
and is 13 1/4 inches high. The catalogue entry notes that
mules and other animals associated with Dionysiac revelry were
especially popular for decoration of fulcra of Hellensistic and Roman
couches that were used during symposia. It has an estimate of
$60,000 to $90,000. It
failed to sell.
Lot
668, mask, wood, Egyptian, New Kingdom, 19th-20th Dynasty, 1307-1070
B.C., 18 inches high
Lot 668 is a very impressive
and large Egyptian wood mask from the New Kingdom, 19th-20th Dynasty,
1307-1070 B.C. It is 18 inches high and the catalogue states
that it has no traces of pigment. It has an estimate of
$90,000 to $120,000.
It sold for $111,750.
Lot 686,
"Mummy mask," gilt cartonnage, Egyptian, Late Ptolemaic Period to Early
Roman Period, 50 B.C.-50 A.D., 9 3/4 inches high, right
Lot 686 is a very attractive
gilt cartonnage Egyptian mummy mask from the Late Ptolemaic Period to
Early Roman Period, 50 B.C.-50 A.D. It is 9 3/4 inches high
and very colorful. The lot also comes with a painted mummy
mask. The estimate is $12,000 to $18,000. It sold for $16,250.
Lot 676,
"Ptah-Sokar-Osiris," Egyptian, gilt and painted wood, Late Period to
Ptolemaic Period, 664-30 B.C., 24 5/8 inches high
Lot 676 is a show-stopper
with its nearly perfect gilt face and significant traces of paint.
It is Ptah-Sokar-Osiris and it is Egypitan, Late Period to
Ptolemaic Period, 664-30 B.C. It is 24 5/8 inches high.
It has an estimate of $25,000 to $35,000. It sold for $40,000.
Lot 682, cat,
Egyptian, bronze, Ptolemaic Period, 304-30 B.C., 13 5/8 inches high
Lot
682 is a large Egyptian bronze cat from the Ptolemaic Period, 304-30
B.C. It is 13 5/8 inches high. It was once in the
collection of Viceroy Abbas II (1892-1914). It has an
estimate of $150,000 to $250,000. It sold for $2,027,750, a world auction record for an Egyptian bronze cat!
Lot 677, Cat
with five kittens, bronze, Egyptian, Late Period, 26th-30th Dynasty,
664-342 B.C., 2 7/8 inches long
Lot
677 is a cute Egyptian bronze cat with her five kittens from the Late
Period, 26th-30th Dynasty, 664-342 B.C. It is 2 7/8 inches
long. It has an estimate of $3,000 to $5,000. It sold for $3,000.
Lot 679,
falcon, bronze, Egyptian, Ptolemaic Period, 304-30 B.C., 3 3/16 inches
high
Lot 369 is a pleasant little
Egyptian bronze falcon, Ptolemaic Period, 304-30 B.C. It is 3
3/16 inches high. It has an estimate of $3,000 to $5,000. It sold for $6,000.
Lot 665,
seated priest, serpentine, Egyptian, Middle Kingdom, 13th Dynasty,
1782-1640 B.C., 9 1/2 inches high
Lot
665 is an impressive Egyptian serpentine sculpture of a seated priest.
It is Middle Kingdom, 13th Dynasty, 1782-1640 B.C.
It is 9 1/2 inches high. It has an estimate of
$20,000 to $30,000. It
sold for $52,500.
Lot 666,
"Talatat" relief, sandstone, Egyptian, New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, Reign
of Amenhotep IV, circa 1350 B.C., 7 1/4 inches wide
Lot 666 is a very good
Egyptian "Talatat" sandstone relief from the New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty,
Reign of Amenhotep IV, circa 1350 B.C. It is 7 1/4 inches
wide. It has an estimate of $20,000 to $30,000. It sold for $47,500.
Lot 570, gilt
terracotta appliqué, Greek, Tarantine, circa 350-325 B.C., 6 1/4 inches
long
The auction has three gilt
terracotta Greek appliqués, Tarantine. The most dramatic is
Lot 570 that shows a battle between an Arimasp and a griffin.
It is dated 350-325 B.C., and is 6 1/4 inches long.
A fragmentary relief possibly from the same mold is in the
collection of the J. Paul Getty Museum. It was once with N.
Koutoulakis in Paris. It has a estimate of $15,000 to
$20,000. It
sold for $18,750.
Lot 571, gilt
terracotta appliqué of a stag collapsing on its folded forelegs, Greek,
Tarantine, circa 350-325 B.C., 4 1/2 inches long
Lot 571 is another Greek
Tarantine gilt terracotta appliqué, also that was once with N.
Koutoulakis of Paris. It depicts a stag collapsing on its
folded forelegs and is circa 350-325 B.C., and it is 4 1/2 inches long.
It has an estimate of $10,000 to $15,000. It sold for $12,500.
Lot 572,
panther, gilt terracotta appliqué, Greek, Tarantine, circa 350-325
B.C., 4 5/8 inches long
The
third Greek Tarantine gilt terracotta appliqué in the auction is Lot
572, a panther. Circa 350-325 B.C., it is 4 5/8 inches long
It once was in the famous collection of little animal
antiquities of Leo Mildenberg of Zurich. It has an estimate
of $10,000 to $15,000. It
sold for $10,000.
Lot 691,
bronze rattle standard, Transcaucasian, circa mid-2nd Millennium B.C.,
11 inches, left; Lot 692, bronze rattle standard, Transcauscasian,
circa mid-2nd Millennium B.C., 11 5/8 inches high
Lot
691 is a Transcaucasian bronze rattle standard in the form of
a stag, circa mid-2nd Millennium B.C. It is 11 inches high.
It has an estimate of $8,000 to $12,000. It sold for $25,000.
Lot 692 is a Transcauscasian bronze rattle standard in the form
of a doe, circa mid-2nd Millennium B.C. It is 11
5/8 inches high. It has an estimate of $8,000 to $12,000.
It sold for
$16,250.
Lot 689, Male
figure, bronze, Piravend, circa early 1st Millennium B.C., 4 1/2 inches
high
Lot
689 is a nice Piravend male figure without legs, circa Early 1st
Millennium B.C. It is 4 1/2 inches high and is property of
the Springfield Museum and once belonged to Raymond Bidwell.
It has an estimate of $2,000 to $3,000. It sold for $2,750.
Lot
536, Lion protome, bronze, East Greek, Archaic Period, circa mid-6th
Century B.C., 6 1/8 inches long
Lot
536 is a very stylized bronze lion protome of the East Greek Archaic
Period, circa mid-6th Century B.C. It is 6 1/8 inches long.
It has an estimate of $40,000 to $60,000. It sold for
$50,000.
Lot
528, Reclining female figure, marble, Cycladic, attributed to the
Kontoleon Sculptor, Kapsala Variety, Early Cycladic 1-II, circa
2700-2600 B.C., 5 13/16 iches high
Lot 528 is a smaller marble
reclining female figure missing only her lower legs that is Cycladic
and is attributed to the Kontoleon Sculptor, Kapsala Variety.
It is dated Early Cycladic I-11, circa 2700-2600 B.C.
It is 5 13/16 inches high. It has a modest estimate
of $50,000 to $70,000. It
sold for $93,750.
Lot 527,
Head, marble, Cycladic, Late Spedos Variety, Early Cycladic II, circa
2500-2400 B.C., 6 1/4 inches high
Lot
527 is a large marble Cycladic head of the Late Spedos Variety from the
Early Cycladic II period, circa 2500-2400 B.C. It is 6 1/4
inches high. It has an estimate of $60,000 to $90,000. It sold for $159,750.
See The
City Review article on the Fall 2012 Antiquities auction at Sotheby's
New York
See The
City Review article on the Spring 2012 Antiquities auction at Christie's
See The
City Review article on the Spring 2011 Antiquities auction at Christies
See The City Review article on the
Spring 2011 Antiquities auction at Sotheby's