Skip to content
Roman antiquities

Roman antiquities to star at Ancient Resource Auctions April 6

Tom Hoepf
Tom Hoepf
Roman antiquities
Roman bronze door knocker, circa first-third century. Estimate: 1,000-$1,500. Ancient Resource Auctions image

MONTROSE, Calif. – A Roman marble bust of the deity Serapis from the first to third century and a lovely Roman bronze lion mask door knocker from the same period are just two highlights in an online-only Antiquities Discovery Sale on Saturday, April 6, at 9 a.m. Pacific time by Ancient Resource Auctions. Bid absentee or live online through LiveAuctioneers.

The sale will feature a fantastic selection of authentic, museum-quality items from various Roman, Greek, Egyptian, Near Eastern and Pre-Columbian cultures, plus other ethnographic and antique items at price points certain to please.

The Roman bronze lion mask door knocker is nicely detailed and patinated. It’s an attractive example of a decorative door device that persists to this day. They’re enormously popular in the UK, where the Prime Minister maintains one. The one in the sale should bring $1,000-$1,500.

The Roman marble bust of Serapis depicts the deity robed with a heavy beard, a modius atop his head. His features are carved with narrow eyes, a wide flat nose and pursed lips. The bust stands a little more than 6 inches tall. It’s an interesting piece that carries an estimate of $1,500-$2,500.

Roman antiquities
Roman marble bust of the deity Serapis from the first-third century, standing a little more than 6in. tall. Estimate: $1,500-$2,500. Ancient Resource Auctions image

Another lot to watch is the handsome Egyptian alabaster jar (Ptolemaic, circa second to first century B.C.). Well-carved in semitranslucent stone, the 6-inch-tall jar features a body tapered to a flattened foot, short wide-rim neck and two vertical lug handles. It’s estimated at $1,200-$2,000.

Roman antiquities
Handsome Egyptian alabaster jar, Ptolemaic, circa second-first century B.C., well-carved in semitranslucent stone, 6in. tall. Estimate: $1,200-$2,000. Ancient Resource Auctions image

A Byzantine, or early Fatimid period, yellow-green glass bowl, circa ninth-tenth century, 4 inches in diameter and of solid construction, with the glass translucent with beautiful color and the interior having a lovely, multicolored iridescence, should realize $700-$1,000, while a Roman pale yellow glass bottle, Eastern Mediterranean and dating to the fourth-fifth century, an attractive type with an ovoid body on a flared foot, carries an estimate of $450-$600.

Roman antiquities
Byzantine, or early Fatimid period, yellow-green glass bowl, circa ninth-tenth century, 4 inches in diameter. Estimate: $700-$1,000. Ancient Resource Auctions image

A fantastic 21K yellow gold scarab bracelet, handsomely constructed with seven Egyptian steatite scarabs of similar size and shape, all but one from the New Kingdom (1570-1075 B.C.), including a sphinx, a crocodile and a lion, should make $600-$900. Also, a nice Near Eastern bronze dagger (circa 1200-800 B.C.), with the handle and blade cast as one piece, about 13½ inches in length and a well-preserved example, is expected to change hands for $600-$800.

Roman antiquities
Gold scarab bracelet, 21K, handsomely constructed with seven Egyptian steatite scarabs of similar size and shape, all but one from the New Kingdom. Estimate: $600-$900. Ancient Resource Auctions image

A late Hellenistic terracotta figure of a robed woman, circa first century B.C., 9 inches tall, with the subject depicted with one knee raised up and wearing an attractive and interesting headdress, is estimated to fetch $450-$800. Also, an Egyptian bronze mummiform figure of Osiris, Egyptian Lord of the Underworld, dating to the Late Period (circa 664-332 B.C.), depicted wearing an Atef crown with uraeus and false beard, its arms folded at the chest, carries an estimate of $400-$700.

For details contact Ancient Resource Auctions contact 818-425-9633 or ancientresourceauctions@yahoo.com.

[av_button label=’View the fully illustrated catalog and bid on LiveAuctioneers.’ link=’manually,https://www.liveauctioneers.com/catalog/138398_auction-74-antiquities-discovery-sale/’ link_target=’_blank’ size=’medium’ position=’center’ label_display=” icon_select=’no’ icon=’ue800′ font=’entypo-fontello’ color=’theme-color’ custom_bg=’#444444′ custom_font=’#ffffff’ av_uid=’av-6ga3b0d’ admin_preview_bg=”]