By Carter B. Horsley

In a rather extraordinary auction, two collectors have permitted Christie's to offer together their antique glass objects that were formerly in the collection of Giorgio Sangiorgi, a well-known antiques dealer whose gallery was in the Palazzo Borghese in Rome. Sangiorgi assembled most of his collection beginning in the late 19th Century and it was published in 1914. Subsequently, many fine pieces were acquired by the Corning Museum of Glass and the Toledo Museum of Art in Ohio.

"A testament to the strength and depth of the Sangiorgi Collection," the catalague notes, "is that even with the partial disbursement, the remaining several hundred works of art are still one of the most significant private collections of ancient glass ever to be offered at auction."

The auction was extremely successful with many lots significantly exceeding their high estimates.

The collection has a large group of Mediterranean core-formed vessels from the 6th to the 1st Centuries, B.C. , and, from the same period, a group of pendants in the form of bearded heads and elaborate colorful "eye" beads. "Perhaps one of the finest in existence is a Carthaginian pendant in the form of a head with the hair and beard in amber glass rather than the usual blue or block," the catalogue observed of Lot 27, shown above. Only 1 3/8 inch long, it has a conservative estimate of $15,000 to $20,000 and is the cover illustration of the catalogue. It sold for $87,200 (including the buyer's premium as do all sales prices in this article.)

Other exceptional, though less spectacular, pendants are Lot 21, which has a blue beard and an identical estimate and sold for $36,800, and Lots 28 and 30, each with estimates of $4,000 to $6,000. The former sold for $6,325 and the latter sold for $4,830.

Many of the extremely decorative and beautiful beads are strung as necklaces in two lots with several strands each, 34 and 35, which have estimates, respectively, of only $6,000 to $8,000 and $5,000 to $7,000. Lot 34 sold for $14,950 and Lot 35 sold for $12,650. Lot 36 has a fine strand of cobalt blue glass beads and a bead of Medusa together with 8 black irregularly shaped glass beads cast with grimacing faces, all estimated for a total of only $4,000 to $6,000. It was one of the few disappointments of the sale although it did sell for $2,530.

Another fascinating group is Lot 38 that consists of 16 Punic, Greek and Roman glass amulets, most of great charm and only estimated at $2,500 to $3,500. It sold for $2,300.

One of the most spectacular pieces in the auction is Lot 103, shown below, a Roman polychrome glass snake, circa 1st Century, A.D., 5 1/8 inches wide, with marvered threads of opaque white, blue, yellow, black and amber. Estimated conservatively at $15,000 to $25,000, a similar example is in the New Orleans Museum of Art. It sold for $68,500.

The auction also has a remarkable group of Egyptian and Roman mosaic glass inlays. One of the more delightful ones is Lot 51, shown below, a Roman mosaic glass inlay, circa 1st Century B.C. to 1st Century, A.D., 1 1/8 inches long. Comprised of two half sections joined to form a full mask of the Brothel Keeper, a standard New Comedy character, it is estimated at $8,000 to $10,000. It sold for $29,900.

A lovely group of Roman glass cameos dating from the 1st Century, A.D., in bronze settings is also included in the auction. One of the nicest is Lot 141, shown below, that depicts Dionysos looking back towards a leaping panther. The piece is 1 5/8 inches long and is estimated at $3,500 to $4,500. It sold for $7,475.

Other exceptional pieces include the following:

Lot 75, three Roman mosaic glass beads, one of which depicts a kiwi against a green ground, 3/4 inch high, Egypt or Italy, circa 1st Century B.C. - 1st Century, A.D. It is estimated at $1,500 to $2,000. It sold for $4,600.

Lot 95 consists of nine Roman mosaic glass floral plaques, Middle Egypt, circa late 1st Century B.C. - First Century, A.D., 3 3/4 inches long for the longest piece. It is estimated at $12,000 to $18,000. It sold for $55,200.

Lot 97, a Roman mosaic glass and bronze finial, 4 1/8 inches high, circa 2nd - 3rd Century, A.,D.; Lot 154, which includes 5 Roman glass relief fragments, one of which is a wonderful head of man in cobalt blue glass. It is estimated at $800 to $1,200. It sold for $6,325.

Lot 154 consists of five Roman glass relief fragments, circa 1st Century, A.D., including a very strong and fine head of a man in cobalt blue glass. The lot is estimated at $1,000 to $1,500 and sold for $1,035.

Lot 163, a Roman glass double-head-shaped flask, 3 inches high, circa early 3rd Century, A.D. It is estimated at $400 to $600. It sold for $2,530.

Lot 167, a Roman glass beaker, amber in color, 2 7/8 inches high, Syro-Palestinian, early 1st Century, A.D. It is estimated at $20,000 to $30,000. It sold for $55,200.

Lot 191, a Roman glass double unguentarium, circa 5th - 6th Century, A.D., 9 3/4 inches high. It is estimated at $1,000 to $1,500. It sold for $1,380.

Lot 1, a lovely core-formed glass alabastron sold for $27,600 and had a high estimate of $12,000.

All in all, a very spectacular auction that indicates that antiquities may finally get the due they deserve in the marketplace.