Skip to content
antiquities

Life’s former necessities surface in antiquities auction May 9

Tom Hoepf
Tom Hoepf
antiquities
Apulian red figures lekythos, Greek, circa 350-300 B.C., terra-cotta, 7 5/8 inches high (19.5 cm). Estimate: $1,000-$2,500. Jasper52 image

NEW YORK – Many necessities of life in ancient times are offered in a Jasper52 Antiquities and Ancient online auction to be held Wednesday, May 9. Rare objects from ancient Egypt, Rome, Greece and beyond will be up for bid. The selection includes sculptures, amulets, figures, vessels and weapons. Absentee and Internet live bidding is available through LiveAuctioneers.

An Apulian red figures lekythos, an ancient Greek vessel used for storing oil, is a prized item in the auction. The 19½-inch-tall terra-cotta vessel (above) dates to circa 350-300 B.C. and is decorated with a scene of a young couple. Acquired in Holland in the 1990s, this artifact has a $1,000-$2,500 estimate.

A Roman mosaic panel mounted in a wooden frame, 11¾ by 7½ inches, depicts a fish (below). White, black, ochre and gray tesserae comprise the stone panel, which dates to the fourth to sixth century. Previously the property of an English collector, this artifact was acquired 30 years ago in London. It has an $800-$1,600 estimate.

antiquities
Roman stone mosaic panel with fish, circa 4th-6th century, 11¾ in. x 7½ in. (30 cm x 19.5 cm).
Estimate: $800-$1,600. Jasper52 image

Found in the Holy Land, a Hellenistic Greek ceramic bottle dates to the second or third century B.C. The vessel is 21 inches tall and has a $3,000-$3,500 estimate.

antiquities
Hellenistic Greek ceramic bottle, circa 3rd-2nd century B.C., 21 in. high. Estimate: $3,000-$3,500. Jasper52 image

Also from Greece, a small but finely sculpted marble head from the first or second century B.C. is expected to sell for $2,700-$3,000.

antiquities
Marble head, 2nd to 1st century B.C., Greek, 3¼ in. high (8 cm). Estimate: $2,700-$3,000. Jasper52 image

One of the oldest artifacts in the Jasper52 auction is a rare stone battle-ax from the second millennium B.C. Found in Sweden, the ax is about 9¼ inches long and described as boat-shaped with a large mushroom-shaped butt. It has a $1,500-$1,700 estimate.

 

antiquities
Rare stone battle-ax, second millennium B.C., Sweden, 9.28 in. long (23.2 cm). Estimate: $1,500-$1,1,700. Jasper52 image

A standout in the selection of jewelry in the sale is a Byzantine gold pendant having an amethyst in the center surrounded by a row of small pearls. The pendant, made of 21K gold wire twisted into a floral pattern, dates to the eighth or ninth century (est. $2,000-$3,000).

antiquities
Byzantine amethyst pearls gold pendant, 8th-9th century, made of twisted 21K gold wires, 1 3/8 in. long (3.4 cm). Estimate: $2,000-$3,000. Jasper52 image

Also offered in the 137-lot auction are many medieval bladed weapons.

The Jasper52 Antiquities and Ancient online auction to be held Wednesday, May 9, beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern time.

[av_button label=’View the fully illustrated catalog and bid on LiveAuctioneers.’ link=’manually,https://bit.ly/2w1DFeA’ link_target=’_blank’ size=’medium’ position=’center’ icon_select=’no’ icon=’ue800′ font=’entypo-fontello’ color=’theme-color’ custom_bg=’#444444′ custom_font=’#ffffff’ admin_preview_bg=” av_uid=’av-khb0fj’]

antiquities