Greek Chalcidian hammered bronze helmet, circa 500-300 BC, contoured double curve above brow; hinged, articulated cheek guards. By the time of the Peloponnesian War (434-402 BC), the Chalcidian design was the most widely used type of helmet within Greek ranks. Provenance: London private collection; acquired in European art market pre-2000. Estimate £15,000-£20,000 ($19,380-$25,840)
LONDON – Apollo Art Auctions, internationally known as the most-trusted source for authentic, expertly vetted ancient art and antiquities, will present a July 23rd gallery auction whose quality would please even the most discerning and sophisticated collector. In addition to highly important cultural art and artifacts, the 535-lot auction is enhanced by precious coins, and fine gold and gems from a sumptuous selection of wearable ancient jewelry. Bid absentee and live online through LiveAuctioneers.
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth Saxony, lobster-tail hussar’s helmet with wings, circa 17th-18th century AD, reign of August II the Strong. Round skull with six vertical ridges, horizontal visor with attached narrow face guard. Wings adorned with openwork heart shapes. Provenance: Property of European collector; formerly in private German collection. Estimate £4,500-£9,000 ($5,555-$11,110)
LONDON – Apollo Art Auctions, the premier choice for authentic, expertly vetted ancient art and antiquities, takes pleasure in announcing highlights of its June 10-11 gallery auction, with absentee and Internet live bidding available through LiveAuctioneers. In addition to exquisite, professionally vetted cultural art, artifacts and jewelry, the 702-lot auction broadens the buying horizons for collectors of ancient arms and armor with the addition of post-16th-century weaponry.
Chinese Qing dynasty porcelain sculpture of a Guanyin, estimated at $1,000-$2,000
CRANSTON, R.I. – An early 20th-century Duffner & Kimberly heraldic armorial table lamp, a Chinese Qing dynasty porcelain sculpture of a Guanyin, and an 18th-century Continental carved wooden tavern wall panel are three of the expected highlights in a two-session Couture, Jewelry and Fine & Decorative Art auction slated for Monday, February 27 at Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.
Important over-lifesize marble portrait of a Severan lady, possibly Empress Julia Domna, circa early 3rd century AD. Realistic details to face and wavy, center-parted hairstyle. Height: 555mm (21.85in). Provenance: Private collection of London doctor; previously with a London ancient art gallery; acquired from old Suffolk, UK collection, 1980s. Formerly in 19th century English collection (based on restoration techniques and information provided by vendor). Exhibited at Olympia Antiques Fair, June 2022. Accompanied by ARS professional historical report. Estimate £100,000-£200,000 ($122,150-$244,300)
LONDON – Apollo Art Auctions will launch its new season of gallery events with a January 29 sale generously laden with ancient fine art, antiquities and rare coins. Bidders who are unable to attend in person may bid remotely by phone, online or absentee, and everyone can enjoy the visually stunning auction catalogue online. With its exceptional photography and authoritative descriptions of rare art and artifacts, the auction book takes the reader on a virtual journey of the greatest civilizations of the world, traversing Classical Europe, Egypt and the Near East, and both southern Asia and the Far East.
Set of eight mid-century modern Johannes Hansen for Knoll ‘The Chair’ teakwood chairs, designed by Hans Wegner. All have ‘Johannes Hansen Copenhagen Denmark’ branded to underside; seven have applied Knoll/Hansen retailer’s label. Estimate $10,000-$14,000
SOUTHAMPTON, Pa. – For more than 60 years, family owned and operated Stephenson’s Auctioneers has earned an impeccable reputation based on its sales of fresh-to-market art and antiques from the Philadelphia area’s most elegant estates. Traditionally, their most anticipated event of the year is their Jan. 1 New Year’s Auction, which, for 2023, will feature high-quality fine and decorative art, jewelry, silver, fine furniture; and other valuables and personal property from residences in the Mid-Atlantic region. All forms of remote bidding will be available for those who cannot attend in person, including phone, absentee or live online through LiveAuctioneers.
Rare circa 300 AD Roman silver bowl with central medallion presenting high-relief bust of Zeus with good facial details and abundant hair and beard. Width: 165mm (6.5in). Weight: 230g (7.4ozt). Estimate £2,500-£5,000 ($3,065-$6,130)
LONDON – Apollo Art Auctions hopes to make your Christmas merry and bright with unique antiquities, ancient artworks, coins and wearable jewelry chosen especially for their beautiful December 11, 2022 holiday sale. Whether you’re a collector or a gift-giver in search of something unforgettable, you’ll find it in this impeccably curated auction. The 500+ cataloged lots encompass a broad range of well-provenanced and expertly authenticated artifacts from Classical Europe, through Egypt and the Near East, as well as many treasures from India and China.
November 2011 image of an ancient Buddhist settlement at Mes Anyak in Afghanistan. Taliban leaders who once ordered the destruction of Buddhist sculptures are now committed to preserving Mes Anyak’s art and artifacts to please Chinese investors attracted by a nearby copper mine. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons, photo credit Jerome Starkey. Shared under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.
MES AYNAK, Afghanistan (AP) – The ancient Buddha statues sit in serene meditation in the caves carved into the russet cliffs of rural Afghanistan. Hundreds of meters below lies what is believed to be the world’s largest deposit of copper. Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers are pinning their hopes on Beijing to turn that rich vein into revenue to salvage the cash-starved country amid crippling international sanctions.
The fighters standing guard by the rocky hillside may once have considered destroying the terracotta Buddhas. Two decades ago when the Islamic hard-line Taliban were first in power, they sparked world outrage by blowing up gigantic Buddha statues in another part of the country, calling them pagan symbols that must be purged. But now they are intent on preserving the relics of the Mes Aynak copper mine. Doing so is key to unlocking billions in Chinese investment, said Hakumullah Mubariz, the Taliban head of security at the site, peering into the remnants of a monastery built by first-century Buddhist monks.
Lovely Roman Imperial Period (circa 2nd-3rd century CE) marble head of a female subject, 16.4in high. Estimate $16,000-$24,000
BOULDER, Colo. – Artemis Gallery takes great pleasure in announcing a February 27 online auction through LiveAuctioneers consisting exclusively of cultural artworks acquired by screen legend and “Renaissance man” Anthony Quinn (1915-2001). A portion of the auction proceeds will benefit The Anthony Quinn Foundation, which was established by Quinn’s wife, Katherine Quinn, to fund arts scholarships for youth and advocate for arts education.
Ceylon sapphire, diamond and 18K white gold ring, est. $4,000-$6,000
OAKLAND, Calif. – Clars Auction Gallery is readying two February sales to take place three days apart. A Ceylon sapphire ring leads its Important Fine Jewelry auction, scheduled for Thursday, February 17, and a Herbert James Draper seascape headlines its Furniture, Fine Art and Asian Art sale, set for Sunday, February 20. Absentee and Internet live bidding will be available through LiveAuctioneers.
Lifesize pair of Italian Carrara marble dogs, $62,500
LOS ANGELES – Works in marble achieved marvelous results in Andrew Jones Auctions‘ October 24 auction of The John Nelson Collection, Part I, which more than doubled its presale estimate to realize $1.6 million. Leading the sale were two magnificent life-size Italian Carrara marble models of dogs, both from the 19th century, that brought $62,500.
