Specialties
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Superb Red Sandstone Stele Fragment: 8th-9th Century AD
Catalogue:
Antiques:
Regional Art:
Asian:
Indian Subcontinent:
India:
Pre AD 1000 item# 661705
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$3675.00
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This superb red sandstone fragment is from central India and dates to the Post-Gupta period, circa 8th-9th Century A.D. This piece is approximately 16 inches high and is mounted on a custom metal stand. This piece may originally have been part of a stele and/or a temple. There is a section on the right side of this piece that is flat, and this side may have been the inner part of a doorway. There are also four smiling Nagas seen on this piece with intertwined serpent tails and cobra hoods above their heads. Their raised clasped hands are seen in the Anjali Mudra position, and they are positioned at an angle so that they view the person that would pass through the doorway. There is also an elaborate foliage pattern seen on the edge, and the overall design of this piece is very esoteric. There is an analogous piece that is seen in the Mr. and Mrs. Harold P. Ullman Collection and is published in "Art of the Indian Subcontinent From Los Angeles Collections", Ward Ritchie Press, 1968. This piece may be a part of the same building and/or stele, as this piece also forms part of a door jam. This piece, and the piece offered here, are both extremely fine examples of ancient Indian art and are in superb condition with clear detailed carving. These carvings are highly spiritual, and were intended to protect the viewer, as this was the reason for the depiction of the Nagas. A nice heavy piece with a high degree of spiritual feeling. Ex: Sotheby's New York, "Indian, Himalayan, and Southeast Asian Art", March, 1990. Ex: Private Los Angeles collection. (Additional documentation is available to the purchaser.) I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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Three Mint Roman Glass Cosmetic Flasks
Catalogue:
Antiques:
Regional Art:
Ancient World:
Roman:
Glass:
Pre AD 1000 item# 783989
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$565.00
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These three Roman glass vessels date circa 3rd century A.D., and are mint quality with no cracks and/or chips. These pieces were all blown into various shapes that fit a particular cosmetic and/or unguent. These pieces are approximately 3.2, 2.9, and 2.5 inches high. These pieces are all light green in color and have spotty light brown mineral deposits. Ex: Joel Malter collection, Los Angeles, CA. I certify that these pieces are authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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Egyptian Basalt Mace Head: Predynastic Period
Catalogue:
Antiques:
Regional Art:
Ancient World:
Egyptian:
Stone:
Pre AD 1000 item# 806267
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$925.00
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This mint quality piece is an Egyptian black basalt mace-head that dates to the Predynastic Period, Nagada I/Nagada II, circa 4000-3500 B.C. This piece is approximately 2.75 inches high, and has a near perfect globular form. There is a bow drilled hole that runs through the center, and there is wear on the outer edges at each end of the hole. This may be due to the fact that a leather thong was attached through the central perforation, and could have produced wear to the outer edges of the hole at each end. A leather thong was preferred over a rigid shaft that was directly attached to the stone mace-head, because a rigid shaft may not have withstood the blows, as this weapon generated a tremendous amount of energy at the point of attack. This theory was elaborated by Winifred Needler in "Predynastic and Archaic Egypt in The Brooklyn Museum", Brooklyn, New York, 1984, p.145 and 259. The stone that this piece is made from, black basalt, is extremely dense and is one of the hardest stones to carve. The ancient Egyptians were able to carve some of their finest portrait busts from this stone, and in many cases it took years to do this and was a community effort for large scale works. The piece seen here was not easy to make, and is in itself is a work of art, although it is a weapon of war. There are nice cream colored calcite and light brown mineral deposits seen on the outer and inner surfaces of this piece, in addition to areas that have various degrees of wear. A nice weapon that is not often seen in black basalt. A custom stand is included and the piece can easily be removed, as it sits on top of the stand. Ex: Sotheby's Antiquities, Dec. 1995, no. 212. Ex: Private New York collection. (Additional documentation is available to the purchaser.) I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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Masterpiece Miniature Roman Silver Eagle Figurine
Catalogue:
Antiques:
Regional Art:
Ancient World:
Roman:
Pre AD 1000 item# 594619
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$1875.00
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This Roman silver eagle is nothing short of a masterpiece. This piece dates circa 1st century B.C. to the 1st century A.D. The quality and detail seen on this piece is superb, and this piece probably was made by a gem engraver and/or coin die celator. This miniature silver piece is approximately 1.25 inches high and sits on a custom clear/black plexiglas base. The piece rotates around on a pin that is centered in the clear plexiglas post. This piece has detail seen within the wings that is truly remarkable, and this type of workmanship reminds one of the Greek coins of Acragas, circa 472-420 B.C., that show a standing eagle. A coin such as this may have served as a model, as the Roman artists strove to duplicate the earlier Greek artists. The minute detail, seen within the feathers of the wings and the tension portrayed in the neck with a slight twist, could only have been produced by a very accomplished artist. The pose of this piece is very refined from every angle, which is another point that defines this piece. The patina of this piece is aged to a light gray, which indicates that this piece has had contact with oxygen for quite some time and that it has not been recently cleaned. An exceptional piece with fine detail and one of the best Roman miniatures that has been offered. Ex: Private German collection. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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Superb Greek Hellenistic Silver Mastos Bowl
Catalogue:
Antiques:
Regional Art:
Ancient World:
Greek:
Pre AD 1000 item# 595929
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$3800.00
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This piece is a Greek silver bowl that dates from the Hellenistic period, circa 4th-3rd century B.C. This superb piece is approximately 3.5 inches high by 5.75 inches in diameter. This piece was hammered from one sheet of silver, then the top rim was folded under, and then the top rim was sealed with a bead that is seen on the inside. In addition, there is a round double-bead design that is seen on the outer bottom. This piece has some heavy outer white calcite deposits and a nice even light gray patina. This piece is known as a "mastos" bowl and the type is seen in D.E. Strong "Greek and Roman Gold and Silver Plate", London 1966, p.108, fig.24. This piece is a large and superb example for the type, and is analogous to the example seen in Sotheby's Antiquities, New York, Dec. 2001, no. 291, ($4,000.00-$6,000.00 estimates). Ex: Private German collection. (Additional documentation is available to the purchaser.) I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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Lovely Greek Attic Kylix: Floral Band-Cup Group
Catalogue:
Antiques:
Regional Art:
Ancient World:
Greek:
Pottery:
Pre AD 1000 item# 961593
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$2,875.00
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This lovely vessel is a Greek Black-figure Attic kylix that dates circa 480-450 B.C. This piece is approximately 3 inches high by 8.75 inches handle to handle. This piece is intact and is in mint condition, with no restoration and/or repair. This piece is attributed to the "Floral Band-Cup Group", which was produced by a Greek Attic workshop circa mid 6th century B.C. until 450 B.C. This group was also among the last of the Attic Black-figure ceramics that were produced, as they were supplanted by the more popular Attic Red-figure ceramics circa 450 B.C. S.J. Beazley first indentified and classified this group in 1932 in the "Journal of Hellenic Studies, No. 52". (For other examples see S.J. Beazley, "Attic Black-Figure Vase-Painters", Oxford, 1956.) The piece offered here is better than most examples, as it has an elegant esoteric shape that has perfect symmetry, is thin walled and well made, and has very vibrant colors. This piece is decorated with a row of palmate leaves in black glaze, with white dot and violet stem detail. This palmate design is the hallmark of the "Floral Band-Cup Group", and the painted design seen on this vessel is very detailed. The center tondo has a black dot center with an outer circle, and the handles are rectangular and are finely made. This piece has a great deal of eye appeal and is a mint quality little gem. Ex: Private New York collection. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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Early Chavin/Cupisnique Water Carrier: 900-600 B.C.
Catalogue:
Antiques:
Regional Art:
Americas:
Pre Columbian:
Pottery:
Pre AD 1000 item# 594176
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$2875.00
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This Chavin/Cupisnique water carrier is an early type Chavin ceramic and dates circa 900-600 B.C. This piece is intact and is in mint condition with no stress cracks and/or breaks. This large piece is approximately 12.1 inches high, and has a cream and light red polychrome glaze. There is some light brown burnishing seen mostly on the bottom, and there is also a very small drill hole that is seen that was done for a thermoluminescence test (TL test). This TL test was done by the prior private collector in Germany, and it was done by Kotalla Laboratory. This document is included with this piece.(The results of this test place this piece circa 600-400 B.C.) This cute piece has a friendly warm smile and projects an easy going carefree feeling. The design of the face is very simple, and comic-like, but this was probably the intent of the potter/artist. This type of piece is rare for an Andean ceramic, as most Andean cultures such as the Chavin and the Moche were based on a warrior cult that used live captives for sacrifice. The Chavin/Cupisnique produced some of the first and finest ceramics in ancient Peru, and the stirrup-spout seen on this vessel was their invention. This allowed the Chavin/Cupisnique potters to move this piece around in the kiln with a stick, and they were able to produce pieces that had bright colors with even glazes such as this piece. This water carrier may be a representation of a person, but more likely, it is an anthropomorphic form represented as being from the spirit world. There is also a face seen at the front of the main body of the vessel that may double as a clothing design. This piece may also be from the "Cupisnique" culture as noted by Richard Berger in "Chavin and the Origins of Andean Civilization", page 90-99. He notes that this type of ceramic, with it's trapezoidal arch and single spout with the flaring end, are creations of the initial phase prior to the appearance of what we know as true Chavin style ceramics. The TL test seems to support this view. Most early pieces of this type have simple line design details for the eyes, nose, and other facial features/body design as this piece shows. This Chavin/Cupisnique piece is a rare, early type and is a large example. Ex: Private German collection. Ex; Private CA. collection. (Additional documentation is available to the purchaser.) I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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Attractive Pink Sandstone Post-Gupta Male Torso
Catalogue:
Antiques:
Regional Art:
Asian:
Indian Subcontinent:
India:
Pre 1492 item# 738399
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$2675.00
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This attractive pink sandstone torso is from the Post-Gupta period, circa 9th century A.D., and is from central India. This piece is approximately 14 inches high and is mounted on a custom metal stand. The male seen here may be Vishnu, the preserver, and is probably the most widely worshipped of the Hindu deities in India, and although he is seen as representing stability, he has, through his avatars, a multifaceted character. Over the centuries, he has managed to absorb other cults, making them part of his essential oneness. He is seen here wearing a collar and an intricate three-part jewelled belt, and his posture is centered towards the viewer. This piece has spotty white calcite deposits and has more wear at the back of the piece. This indicates a burial pattern with the front of the piece probably lying face down, and with the back side exposed to the elements. This burial pattern and the calcite deposits are excellent indications of authenticity, and this is very important, given the large number of fakes on the international market. This piece is also a scarce depiction of Vishnu, as he is seen as an over-weight older male. This piece has a great deal of eye appeal and is an excellent example of medieval period Indian art. Ex: Arthur Millner collection, London. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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Superb Late Roman Storage Amphora
Catalogue:
Antiques:
Regional Art:
Ancient World:
Roman:
Pottery:
Pre AD 1000 item# 968766
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$765.00
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This superb piece is a late Roman storage amphora that dates circa 4th-5th century A.D. This piece is approximately 5 inches high and it is in mint condition, with no repair and/or restoration. This piece is made from a light tan terracotta and was coil made on a potter's wheel. There is also a lid that was form fitted to the top of the vessel when the clay was wet. This vessel also stands by itself, although the handles were made for suspension. This piece has some light gray to spotty dark black dendrites, along with some minute root marks that are seen on the inside surface of the vessel. The outside of this piece has some of these deposits as well, but are not as prevalent. This type of amphora was used to store grains, seeds, and other "dry" type goods. Larger examples of this type were used not only for storage, but also for transport. This piece has a high degree of eye appeal, and is seldom seen with it's accompanying lid. A custom display stand is included. Ex: Private Israeli collection. Ex: David Leibert collection, New York. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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Darius I type Gold Daric: circa 485-450 B.C.
Catalogue:
Antiques:
Regional Art:
Ancient World:
Greek:
Pre AD 1000 item# 974870
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
Sold
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This attractive Greek gold coin is a stater/daric that is of a type that was first minted by Darius I, who was a monarch of the Persian empire. The coin seen here dates circa 485-450 B.C., and was minted by the successors of Darius I, who were Xerxes and Artaxerxes I. This coin may have been minted by Xerxes in order to help finance his invasion of Greece, circa 480 B.C. This coin is 8.4 gms, and is in about extremely fine condition with mint lustre. The obverse shows the bearded Great King running right, and is holding a spear and bow, which is symbolic of Darius bringing strength and justice to the Persian empire. The reverse has an incuse punch, which remained on this coinage for over 50 years. This piece is well centered, and has the full figure and the bow seen within the flan, and is better than most examples. The dies are classified in Carradice as Type IIIb, group A/B, and is a scarce type. Ex: Private CA. collection. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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