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Roman, bronze statuette of the god Mercury, circa 100-300 AD, $5,800-$7,000. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.

Malter Galleries to auction ancient art, artifacts on Feb. 21

Catherine Saunders-Watson
Catherine Saunders-Watson
Roman, bronze statuette of the god Mercury, circa 100-300 AD, $5,800-$7,000. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.
Roman, bronze statuette of the god Mercury, circa 100-300 AD, $5,800-$7,000. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.

ENCINO, Calif. – Southern California’s Malter Galleries Inc. will conduct its Ancient Art from Around the World Auction on Sunday, Feb. 21, 2010, commencing at noon Pacific Time (3 p.m. Eastern). The sale will take place at the company’s Los Angeles-area gallery, with Internet live bidding provided by LiveAuctioneers.com.

The auction will open with a fine array of ancient Egyptian artifacts and features a rare 4-headed small bronze ram that is estimated at $8,000-$10,000. Several nice faience ushabtis, scarabs and wood pieces, as well as several Egyptian bronzes, are also included in the section.

A selection of ancient Greek artifacts will follow and includes a desirable, small “geometric” bronze horse formerly the property of Royal Athena Galleries in New York. The equine figure is estimated at $3,600-$4,000. Also included is a small bronze goat with the same excellent provenance, estimated at $3,800-$4,500.

Hellenistic pieces will be offered next. A tall crème slip terra cotta figure of a standing lady from an old Florida collection is one of the highlights and is expected to make around $1,500.

Ancient Persian pieces include a good bronze dagger and axe head as well as an outstanding upper torso in terra cotta of a Parthian king. The Parthian piece is from the collection of Joel L. Malter.

The auction continues with many desirable pieces of Etruscan, Daunian and Apulian black ware pottery, all of which are very collectible; and some charming Roman pieces, including a small bronze statue of the god Mercury estimated at $5,800-$7,000.

Two fantastic carved stone miniatures from the Joel L. Malter collection are entered in the sale, each depicting a dolphin. One was crafted of carnelian and the other, of crystal. The latter example is depicted in the Robert K. Lui book titled A Universal Aesthetic, Collectible Beads.

Also to be auctioned are several ancient oil lamps, wearable ancient beaded necklaces and other jewelry pieces; and a featured collection of old Philippine head-hunting weapons. The collection includes axes, spears and wood shields.

Rounding out the sale are about a half dozen large and powerful pre-Columbian pieces from an old Florida collection. A hunchback from Jalisco, Mexico, fashioned from crème ceramic, is expected to make $2,500-$3,500, as is a “ball player” from the same culture and timeframe.

The auction concludes with a couple of fine Spanish swords, a Mercator map, wood netsukes, and some excellent Chinese and Indian pieces that were mostly consigned from an old San Francisco collection.

For additional information on any item in the sale, call Mike Malter at Malter Galleries, 818-784-7772, or e-mail mike@maltergalleries.com.

View the fully illustrated auction catalog and sign up to bid absentee or live via the Internet at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.

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

ADDITIONAL LOTS OF NOTE

Egypt, Late Period, rare 4-headed bronze ram, $8,000-$10,000. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.
Egypt, Late Period, rare 4-headed bronze ram, $8,000-$10,000. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.

Greek, rare geometric miniature bronze horse, circa 8th century BC, $3,600-$4,000. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.
Greek, rare geometric miniature bronze horse, circa 8th century BC, $3,600-$4,000. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.

Greek, rare solid cast-bronze running goat, circa 500 BC, $3,800-$4,500. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.
Greek, rare solid cast-bronze running goat, circa 500 BC, $3,800-$4,500. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.

Roman, superb dolphin amulet, Joel L. Malter Collection, $4,000-$5,000. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.
Roman, superb dolphin amulet, Joel L. Malter Collection, $4,000-$5,000. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.

Roman, rare small dark blue colored glass flask, circa 100-300 AD, $900-$1,200. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.
Roman, rare small dark blue colored glass flask, circa 100-300 AD, $900-$1,200. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.

Jalisco, western Mexico, seated hunchback figure in creme ceramic, 12 inches, circa 250 BC - 350 AD, $2,500-$3,500. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.
Jalisco, western Mexico, seated hunchback figure in creme ceramic, 12 inches, circa 250 BC – 350 AD, $2,500-$3,500. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.

Chinese, exquisite jade slipper of 3-color jadeite, late 20th century, $500-$600. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.
Chinese, exquisite jade slipper of 3-color jadeite, late 20th century, $500-$600. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.

Chinese, ivory Guanjin, circa late 18th century, $1,500-$2,000. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.
Chinese, ivory Guanjin, circa late 18th century, $1,500-$2,000. Image courtesy Malter Galleries.