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Roman, Apulia, Underworld Painter, large red figure hydria, estimate $20,000-$40,000. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.

Ancient civilizations come to life in Malter’s Oct. 4 auction

Catherine Saunders-Watson
Catherine Saunders-Watson
Roman, Apulia, circa 4th century B.C., hydria, estimate 20,000-$40,000. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.
Roman, Apulia, circa 4th century B.C., hydria, estimate 20,000-$40,000. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.

ENCINO, Calif. – Southern California’s Malter Galleries Inc. has a treat in store for collectors of antiquities from Egypt, Greece, Mexico and other ancient cradles of civilization. The company’s Sunday, Oct. 4 Ancient Art from Around the World auction, which will commence at noon Pacific Time (3 p.m. Eastern Time), features more than 250 select items, some coming from long-held collections. Internet live bidding will be provided by LiveAuctioneers.com.

The sale will open with a fine selection of Ancient Egyptian art, led by a choice early dynastic alabaster vase measuring 10½ inches tall, with a pre-auction estimate of $5,000. Another beautiful piece from this section is lot 5, a brilliantly painted Middle Kingdom wooden coffin mask estimated at $8,750. Scarabs, ushabti, several nice bronzes and other attractive wooden pieces make the Egyptian offering in this auction quite desirable.

The auction continues with exceptional Greek antiquities. A life-size marble head of (perhaps) the goddess Aphrodite, lot 87, dates from the late 5th to the early 4th century B.C., and comes to Malter Galleries from an old New York City Collection. It has a pre-auction estimate of $14,000. Lot 93 is a wonderful Hellenistic, circa 2nd-1st century B.C. bronze figure of Mars, with an estimate of $6,000.

The Roman art section is highlighted by two especially fine pieces. Lot 96 is a fantastic, large circa 330-315 B.C. Apulian red-figure “hydria” that was painted by the Underworld Painter.” Standing 20 inches tall and coming from an old Florida collection, the vessel is expected to fetch $20,000.

An equally stunning red-figure skyphos, a wine krater for the funerary revels, is entered as lot 97. It stands over 10 inches tall and has an estimate of $10,000.

Lot 102 is a large and quite impressive terra cotta Daunian “askos.” Its pre-auction estimate is $3,500.

Roman glass, Luristan bronze weapons and ancient through modern jewelry are also included. Lot 217 is a stunning lady’s 7-inch yellow and white metal ruby and diamond bracelet has an estimate of $4,500. An exquisite design with perennial appeal, it was appraised in 1995 for $9,200.

Chinese and Japanese art is also strongly represented in this auction. Snuff bottles, ivories – including lot 171, a circa-1900 artwork of top quality, featuring Japanese Samurais, might earn in the vicinity of $1,500 at auction.

The auction continues with great Pre-Columbian art, some of which came from the same Florida collection mentioned previously. Lot 224 is a large and choice Colima “dog.” Lot 220 is a marvelous 12-inch crème ceramic Jalisco “hunchback” figure, and lot 223 is a tall standing Jalisco “ball player.” The auction concludes with a couple of nice, old maps and a fine selection of antique canes.

For additional information on any item in the sale, call 818-784-7772. View the fully illustrated catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet through www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

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Click here to view Malter Galleries Inc.’s complete catalog.

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

Egypt, Early Dynastic alabaster vase, estimate $5,000-$10,000. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.
Egypt, Early Dynastic alabaster vase, estimate $5,000-$10,000. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.

Egypt, Middle Kingdom, funerary coffin mask, estimate $9,000-$17,500. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.
Greek, marble head of woman, estimate $14,000-$28,000. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.
Greek, marble head of woman, estimate $14,000-$28,000. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.

Hellenistic, circa 2nd-1st century B.C., bronze figure of Mars or warrior, estimate $6,000-$12,000. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.
Hellenistic, circa 2nd-1st century B.C., bronze figure of Mars or warrior, estimate $6,000-$12,000. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.

Roman, Apulia, Underworld Painter, large red figure hydria, estimate $20,000-$40,000. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.
Roman, Apulia, Underworld Painter, large red figure hydria, estimate $20,000-$40,000. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.

Japanese, carved ivory Samurai warriors, circa 1900, estimate $1,500-$3,000. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.
Japanese, carved ivory Samurai warriors, circa 1900, estimate $1,500-$3,000. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.

Lady’s 7-inch ruby and diamond bracelet, estimate $4,600-$9,200. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.
Lady’s 7-inch ruby and diamond bracelet, estimate $4,600-$9,200. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.

Western Mexico, Jalisco, circa 250 B.C.-350 A.D. figure of hunchback, estimate $4,500-$9,000. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.
Western Mexico, Jalisco, circa 250 B.C.-350 A.D. figure of hunchback, estimate $4,500-$9,000. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.

Western Mexico, Jalisco, circa 250 B.C.-350 A.D. figure of bell player, estimate $5,000-$10,000. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.
Western Mexico, Jalisco, circa 250 B.C.-350 A.D. figure of bell player, estimate $5,000-$10,000. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.

Western Mexico, Colima, redware dog, estimate $5,000-$10,000. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.
Western Mexico, Colima, redware dog, estimate $5,000-$10,000. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.