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antiquities

Apollo Art Auctions to offer premier antiquities, ancient and Asian art, July 24

Catherine Saunders-Watson

Catherine Saunders-Watson

antiquities
Circa 3100-2900 B.C. Sumerian pictographic tablet whose cuneiform writing records an administrative account with entries of food supplies. Size: 44.8mm by 68.4mm, weight 62.44g. Provenance: passed by descent to family members of gentleman who died in 1988. Estimate £4,000-£8,000 ($4,810-$9,620)

LONDON – A museum-quality selection of expertly appraised antiquities, ancient and Asian artworks, jewellery and weaponry will be offered by Apollo Art Auctions on Sunday, July 24, starting at 12 noon BST (7 a.m US Eastern Time). The 500-lot sale will be conducted live at Apollo’s elegant London gallery, with international participation cordially welcomed by phone, via absentee bid, or live online through LiveAuctioneers.

500-lot auction features Egyptian ‘sickle sword,’ Imsety human-head canopic jar, Ancient Roman jewellery, Chalcidian helmets, medieval silver-gilt dish with niello lion, Sumerian pictograph tablet

The sale is divided into four sections encompassing a broad range of well provenanced artifacts from Europe, Egypt and the Near East, as well as many prized items from India and China. Bidders may choose from a wealth of unique treasures with provenance from such noted collections such as those of Captain Magnus Julius Davidsen, Alison Barker, and John Lee – all names of great distinction in the realm of antiquities. Each and every piece chosen for the auction has been vetted by a team of world-renowned ancient art experts, including Laetitia Delaloye, Emma Saber, James Brenchley, Sami Fortune, and Apollo Art Auctions’ founder, Dr Ivan Bonchev (PhD, University of Oxford).

An artifact that goes back to the beginning of written language, a Sumerian pictographic tablet (shown at top of page) dates to circa 3100-2900 B.C. The rectangular tablet has columns of etched cuneiform writing which serves as an administrative account of food supplies. Measuring 44.8mm by 68.4mm and weighing 62.44 grams, it is similar to an example in The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The pre-auction estimate is £4,000-£8,000 ($4,810-$9,620).

antiquities
Rare Egyptian khopesh sickle sword, circa 1550-1070 B.C., 556mm long by 50mm wide, weight 790g. Ex Alan Aidun collection, Israel; private collection. Accompanied by professional historical report from Ancient Report Specialists and Israel export license. Estimate £45,000-£50,000 ($54,120-$60,135)

Several remarkable Egyptian relics will take the spotlight on auction day. A rare and most unusual khopesh “sickle sword,” circa 1550-1070 B.C., is 556mm long and weighs 790 grams. Its name “khopesh” may have been derived from a word meaning “leg of beef,” in reference to the blade’s distinctive, comparable shape. The fearsome weapon is similar to a sword appearing in the Y Yadin book The Art of Warfare in Biblical lands, and has provenance from the Alan Baidun collection of Ex Alan Aidun collection, Israel. It is accompanied by a professional historical report from Ancient Report Specialists and an Israel export license. Estimate: £45,000-£50,000 ($54,120-$60,135).

antiquities
Egyptian New Kingdom wood canopic jar, circa 1550-1070 B.C., finely modeled in the form of human-headed Imsety, one of the Four Sons of Horus. Size: 278mm long by 100mm wide. Long and illustrious provenance. Estimate £7,500-£15,000 ($9,020-$18,040)

From Egypt’s New Kingdom period, circa 1550-1070 BC, a wood canopic jar is finely modeled in the form of a human-headed Imsety, one of the Four Sons of Horus and guardian of the liver. The jar displays three columns of carefully and beautifully engraved hieroglyphs enhanced with black pigment. Its inscription, in part, invokes an offering of “bread, oxen and fowl.” With a long and illustrious line of provenance that includes the collection of Captain Magnus Julius Davidsen (1877-1962), this impressive vessel carries an auction estimate of £7,500-£15,000 ($9,020-$18,040).

antiquities
Ancient Greek bronze Chalcidian helmet, circa 400 B.C., forged in one piece with high-arched eyebrows below a peaked, raised band, and with a teardrop-shape nose guard. Similar to example in The Walters Art Museum collection. Provenance: private UK collection, acquired on German art market pre-2000. Accompanied by professional historical report from Ancient Report Specialists. Estimate £6,000-£9,000 ($7,215-$10,825)

More than 80 lots of Ancient Greek, Byzantine and Hellenistic artifacts will be presented, including pottery, sculptures, gold jewellery, and weapons of war. The latter category features curiosities such as ceramic “Greek fire” hand grenades and coveted bronze helmets. A fine example of a circa-400 BC Chalcidian helmet was forged in one piece with high-arched eyebrows below a peaked, raised band, and with a teardrop-shape nose guard. Similar to example in The Walters Art Museum collection, it is estimated at £6,000-£9,000 ($7,215-$10,825). A second Chalcidian bronze helmet, with original armored-plate cheek guards, probably originated on the northern coast of the Black Sea, circa 400-300 BC. It has graced several European private collections since its acquisition in Germany in 1983 and will be offered with a £12,000-£24,000 ($14,430-$28,860) estimate. Each of the two helmets is accompanied by a professional historical report from Ancient Report Specialists.

antiquities
Stunning Ancient Roman gold ring with D-shape garnet intaglio depicting a bust of the god Mercury carrying a caduceus. XLF testing confirms metallurgical content that suggests its ancient origin, with no modern trace elements. Weight: 9.31g. Provenance: a London gentleman, formerly in a London private collection, acquired on the UK and international art markets pre-2000. Estimate £10,000-£15,000 ($12,030-$18,045)

With its exceptional beauty and unmistakable artistry, ancient Roman jewelry consistently rates as one of the most popular categories in Apollo Art Auctions’ sales. Approximately four dozen pieces were chosen for inclusion in the company’s July event, including necklaces, pendants on chains, gemstones, wearable earrings, and gold rings set with gems such as emeralds, carnelians, garnets and more. A very special entry is Lot 116, a hollow gold ring with a richly hued D-shape garnet intaglio depicting the god Mercury carrying a caduceus. It truly must be seen to be fully appreciated, both for its tasteful design and the exquisite color of its stone. The ring has undergone X-ray fluorescence analysis and will be offered with a £10,000-£15,000 ($12,030-$18,045) estimate.

antiquities
Ancient Roman bronze statuette of Hercules with ‘lion skin’ draped over left shoulder; right hand separately cast in silver, 115mm long by 50mm wide, weight 30g. Comparable to example sold by Christies in 2010. Provenance: London private collection, Swiss family collection (1980s/1990s). Estimate £4,500-£9,000 ($5,410-$10,825)

Roman statuary is well represented in the auction, as well. A 115mm bronze statuette of Hercules shows him in the classic contrapposto pose, with a “lion skin” draped over his left shoulder. His face is youthful, his eyes almond-shaped and his nose, aquiline. The artwork is similar to one that sold at Christie’s in 2010. Formerly in private collections in London and Switzerland (1980s/1990s), the statuette is expected to reach a final bid in the range of £4,500-£9,000 ($5,410-$10,825). Another noteworthy lot, a circa 85-165 AD Roman Flavian marble portrait of a woman, possibly Vibia Matidia, is similar to an example in The Getty Museum collection. Its provenance includes the Elizabeth Peltekian collection (1984) and a London private collection. Estimate: £3,000-£6,000 ($3,610-$7,215)

antiquities
Roman Flavian marble portrait of a woman, possibly Vibia Matidia, circa 85-165 AD, 99mm x 56mm. Similar to example held in The Getty Museum collection. Ex Elizabeth Peltekian collection (1984) and London private collection. Estimate £3,000-£6,000 ($3,610-$7,215)

Ancient Chinese terracotta animals from the Tang, Han and Wei Dynasties are waiting for their chance to shine on auction day. Among the many whimsical selections are a Northern Wei Dynasty polychrome-decorated terracotta ox, circa 386-534 A.D, which is estimated at £4,500-£9,000 ($5,410-$10,825).

antiquities
Chinese Northern Wei Dynasty polychrome-decorated terracotta ox, circa 386-534 A.D. Exceptionally well detailed. Independently TL-dated and found consistent to the attributed period, with no modern trace elements. Accompanied by TL certificate and full report. Ex Hong Kong collection (1990s), British private collection. Estimate £4,500-£9,000 ($5,410-$10,825)

A Western Han Dynasty hollow-molded terracotta rabbit, circa 202 BC–220 AD, casts an amusing look and has been decorated with fine brushstrokes on its mouth to render the impression of whiskers. The auction estimate is £2,000-£3,000 ($2,405-$3,610).

antiquities
Chinese Western Han Dynasty hollow-molded terracotta rabbit, circa 202 BC – 220 AD, cheeky expression, mouth decorated with delicate brushstrokes to render the impression of whiskers. Size: 330mm long by 220mm wide. Accompanied by TL certificate and full report. Ex Hong Kong collection (1990s), British private collection. Estimate £2,000-£3,000 ($2,405-$3,610)

An exquisitely modeled medieval Western European silver-gilt dish, circa 1200-1400 A.D., is likely Limoges and from the Limousin region of France, which is renowned for its enamel production. The center tondo is delicately crafted in niello inlay gilded with a mythological animal, possibly a lion with a curling tail. It is further embellished with a zigzag decoration and encircled with a star-shape motif. It bears similarities to a dish held in The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection and is accompanied by professional historical report from Ancient Report Specialists. It can be traced to a 1967 sale on the UK market. Estimate: £20,000-£30,000 ($24,055-$36,080)

antiquities
Finely modeled medieval Western European silver-gilt dish with niello lion, circa 1200-1400 A.D., likely Limoges and from Limousin region of France, renowned for its enamel production. A dish of its type is held in The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection. Size: 142mm long by 22.7mm wide, weight 109.53g. Trail of provenance dates to 1967 sale on UK market. Accompanied by professional historical report from Ancient Report Specialists. Estimate £20,000-£30,000 ($24,055-$36,080)

Apollo Art Auctions’ newly expanded venue is located at 25 Bury Place in the heart of London’s Bloomsbury district, opposite The British Museum. Their July 24, 2022 auction will commence at 7 a.m. US Eastern Time/12 noon BST. View the fully illustrated auction catalogue and sign up to bid absentee or live online through LiveAuctioneers. The company accepts payments in GBP, USD and EUR; and ships worldwide. All packing is handled by white-glove specialists in-house. Questions: call Apollo Art Auctions, London, on +44 7424 994167 or email info@apollogalleries.com. Online: www.apolloauctions.com

Apollo Art Auctions is a member of the British Numismatic Trading Association (BNTA) and the Art Loss Register (AR).

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