Specialties
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Near Eastern Sumerian Rock Crystal Bull Amulet
Catalogue:
Antiques:
Regional Art:
Ancient World:
Near Eastern:
Stone:
Pre AD 1000 item# 752891
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$2675.00
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This piece is a carved rock crystal amulet that is in the form of a recumbent bull. This rare piece is Sumerian, and dates circa 3500-3200 B.C. This piece is approximately 1.1 inches long and .5 inches wide, and is very large for a rock crystal amulet of this type. There is also a bow drilled hole that runs from the top center to the bottom of the piece, and this was used to attach this piece to a necklace. These necklaces included additional animal amulets/seals, and other known types of these amulets and seals were made from red chalcedony, lapis lazuli, agate, and onyx. The rock crystal types are the rarest, as this hard stone was difficult to carve and had to be imported into the region (lower Mesopotamia). The Sumerian culture was one of the earliest cultures that used amulets and cylinder seals for commercial and religious reasons. This piece was produced during a period when urban culture was coming into existence, along with the formation of city-states, and the piece offered here marked the wearer with a social status, as amulets of this type were also thought to have been imbued with magical powers. Rock crystal pieces of this type are thought by many academics to represent wealth and power, and this may also explain the bull as a type. ( See "Art of the Ancient Near and Middle East" by Carel J. Du Ry, Abrams Pub., New York, 1969, pp. 32-48. In addition, see Sotheby's Antiquities, New York, "The Ada Small Moore Collection of Ancient Near Eastern Seals", Dec. 1991, no. 1-4 and 28. On page 14 the Reverend Paul Moore, the grandson of Ada Small Moore, mentions an ancient cuneiform text that reads: "A seal of crystal portends that he shall enlarge profits; his name shall be good." ) The bull seen on this amulet is seen in the recumbent position with the legs folded underneath, and the head is turned to the right. This design of the bull is in a compact position, and this makes the drilled eyes even more expressive. The stone is also translucent, and this also gives this bull amulet an animated look. This piece is complete and is in superb condition, save a small fracture seen on the upper head. This piece comes with a custom stand and can easily be removed. Ex: Sotheby's Antiquities, New York, Dec. 1995, no. 155. Ex: Private New York collection. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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Rare Archaic Greek Marble Griffin Table Leg
Catalogue:
Antiques:
Regional Art:
Ancient World:
Greek:
Sculpture:
Pre AD 1000 item# 599951
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$5675.00
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This extremely rare Greek marble dates from the 6th-4th century B.C., and is the upper torso of a griffin. This esoteric piece was part of a table leg known as a "trapezophoros" that supported a table top with several other identical legs. The "trapezophoros" types are usually designed with panther or lion heads, and the rarest type is the griffon type, and only a handful of these examples are known. This piece has a bird-like mouth and tongue, with cat-like short ears and eyes, and eagle feathers seen on each side of the neck. For the Greeks, the griffin symbolized the destroying power of the gods, and during the 5th-4th century B.C., it came to represent an anti-Persian symbol. A limited number of Greek gold staters, minted by Alexander the Great in Asia, had this symbol on the Corinthian helmet of Athena, which was seen on the obverse of this coinage. This symbol was also prevalent on Greek armour at the battle of Gaugamela in September 331 B.C., where Alexander the Great finally smashed the Persian army by decimating over 165,000 Persians, and this battle forever defined the ultimate confrontation between the East and the West. In ancient Greek art, the griffin was also applied in the decoration of friezes, and the Romans followed this tradition, with one of the finest examples seen at the temple of Antoninus and Faustina in Rome. This piece is approximately 14.5 inches high, and on the custom wooden stand it is 17.5 inches high. This solid piece is quite heavy, and it rotates on the stand as well, allowing one to easily display this piece at different angles. This piece has some chips to the mouth area and to the right ear, otherwise the bust of the griffin is nearly complete. This esoteric piece has a nice light brown patina and it is a very decorative piece. The griffin is seen with an open mouth and it exudes a lively look. An extremely rare early Greek piece with a great deal of symbolism. Ex: F. Hirsch collection, Germany. Ex: Private German collection. Ex: Private New York collection. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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Beautiful Greek Bronze Fluted Kalyx Cup
Catalogue:
Antiques:
Regional Art:
Ancient World:
Greek:
Bronze:
Pre AD 1000 item# 633629
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$3,675.00
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This beautiful Greek bronze kalyx cup dates circa 5th-4th century B.C. and is a large example for the type. This piece is intact and is in superb condition, save for two small stress cracks seen on the upper rim which were formed from ground pressures. These stress cracks are also an excellent indication of authenticity, and are an added plus towards the value of the piece. The patina is absolutely gorgeous and is dark green with mixed dark red highlights, and there are spotty mineral deposits which are dark blue and red. The patina seen on this exceptional piece is also very desirable, and is another added plus towards the value of this piece. This piece was hand made from one sheet of bronze and was hammered into shape. This piece was finished with exceptional repousse decoration in the form of a floral pattern, seen centered at the bottom, and this pattern extends up the sides with elongated petals. There is also a hand chased decorative band that runs around the center of the vessel, and this vessel displays several forms of hand worked design which also make this an exceptional example of "classical period" ancient Greek art and workmanship. The shape and decorative elements seen on this piece was derived from the earlier Achaemenid (Persian empire) deep bowl. (For an explanation of the type see D.E. Strong, "Greek and Roman Gold and Silver Plate, London 1966, p.99.) This shape also appears in Attic pottery in the fifth and fourth century B.C., and the Achaemenid influence was felt in Greece well before the conquests of Alexander the Great paved the way to direct contact between Greek art and the East. These types of cups have also been found in silver, with and without the detailed design seen on the vessel offered here. This piece is approximately 4.4 inches in diameter by 3 inches high, is thick walled, and is a large example. The workmanship is also better than what is usually seen, as it has very fine detail, and this piece was probably made for the table of a wealthy individual. This piece was also probably used for formal wine drinking known as symposia. A plexiglas stand is also included. Ex: Private Swiss collection. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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Late Roman Bronze Rivet Cup with Superb Patina
Catalogue:
Antiques:
Regional Art:
Ancient World:
Roman:
Bronze:
Pre AD 1000 item# 595318
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$875.00
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This superb late Roman bronze cup dates circa 3rd-5th century A.D. and is approximately 3 inches high and 4 inches in diameter. This piece has exceptional late Roman heavy bronze riveting that attaches the handle to the main body of the vessel. There are five heavy rivets that can be seen and they were beaten down on the inside of the piece. This piece required a good metal smith in order to create this vessel from one single sheet of metal, and then apply the heavy rivet system for the handle. This piece was probably also made in and around Trier, Germany. This piece has a superb patina, as it is dark green with a mix of red and gold colors. The inside of the vessel has light green mineral deposits, and it is intact with no dents and/or minor damage. An exceptional vessel for the period with a superb patina. Ex: Gunter Puhze, Freiburg, Germany. Ex: Private German collection. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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Mint Greek Late Bronze Age Ossuary Vase
Catalogue:
Antiques:
Regional Art:
Ancient World:
Greek:
Pottery:
Pre AD 1000 item# 997403
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$2,365.00
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This piece is a Greek lidded vessel that dates to the Late Bronze Age period, circa 12th-11th century B.C. This piece is approximately 8.5 inches high by 7.5 inches in diameter, and is intact in mint condition. This piece has attractive spotty white calcite deposits with some root marking, and a light brown earthen over glaze. This piece is a light red terracotta, and the lid fits perfectly into place. This piece also has Mycenaean artistic style, as seen with the two looped handles, peaked lid with knob grip, and the rounded shape of the main body. (For many Mycenaean vessels see "Mycenae and the Mycenaean Age" by George Mylonas, Princeton University Press, 1966.) This type of vessel also served as a burial urn, and held the cremated remains of the deceased. This type of vessel was then placed in a cist grave with lined stones, or within an enclosure of piled rocks, and the entire tomb was then covered with a mound of dirt. This type of burial was common throughout the ancient Greek world during the Bronze Age. The vessel offered here is intact, and is scarce in this condition. Ex: J. Malter collection, Los Angeles. CA. 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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Huge Greek Bronze Bowl with Superb Patina
Catalogue:
Antiques:
Regional Art:
Ancient World:
Greek:
Bronze:
Pre AD 1000 item# 994533
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$5,800.00
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This piece is an extremely large Greek bronze bowl that dates circa 5th-4th century B.C. This piece is approximately 13.2 inches in diameter by 4.2 inches high, and has a superb dark green patina with light green and blue hues. This piece is intact and has no repair/restoration, and is in mint "as found" condition. This piece has two concentric circles that run around the main body of the vessel, and three concentric circles are seen within the raised base ring. These concentric circles are often seen on ancient Greek vessels that date from the 5th to the 4th century B.C. The metal is very think on this piece, and this piece does have some noticable weight to it, and is somewhat heavy as it is approximately 4.8 pounds. This piece has a thick rounded rim, and this allows one to easily lift this piece with a solid grip. There are also no handles attached to the main body, and there is no indication that there were handles that were ever attached to this piece. This type of large vessel with no handles was made to hold wine and/or water for the table or bath, and was often placed on a raised stand. (For this type of vessel, see "Vergina, The Royal Tombs" by Manolis Andronicos, Ekdotike Athenon Pub., Athens, 1984.) This vessel may also have been made for heated water, and may have been used to cool the heated water for the bath, given the thickness of the metal. This piece is rare in this size and is a beautiful example with a high degree of eye appeal. Ex: Mathias Komor collection, New York. Ex: Private New York collection. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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Huge Greek Standing Votive Mother Goddess
Catalogue:
Antiques:
Regional Art:
Ancient World:
Greek:
Pottery:
Pre AD 1000 item# 993691
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$7600.00
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This impressive piece is a huge example of a Greek terracotta mother goddess. This piece dates from the Archaic Period, circa late 6th century-early 5th century B.C., and is an impressive 17 inches high. This attractive piece is intact, save for some minor repair at the base, and is 100% original. Given the extremely large size of this piece, this piece is in remarkable condition and it also stands by itself on its square base. This piece is also rare in this size, as the majority of Archaic period Greek terracottas of this type range from approximately 10-12 inches in height. This piece is also in "as found" condition, as it has a light gray earthen glaze that is layered over the light orange terracotta. This piece has a very lively face, as seen with a slight smile and large almond eyes, which are both hallmarks of Archaic period Greek art, and the overall effect is a face that is very serene. (For an Archaic Period marble monument in the form of a sphinx, circa 550-525 B.C., with very analogous facial details to the terracotta offered here, see "Archaic Greek Art" by Gisela Richter, Oxford University Press, New York, 1949, p.76, fig. 121. This example was considered by Richter as having the best Greek Attic artistic style and "Attic grave monuments of the third quarter of the sixth century are among the finest extant.") The terracotta offered here may be an Attic type as well, and is also a type found on Samos. This type of archaic Greek standing goddess is seen holding a dove in her right hand, and is wearing a long pleated chiton. This piece may represent a votaress presenting an offering to Demeter or Persephone, and in this case the offering is a dove. This piece may also double as a votive offering itself, in addition as being an image of a votive standing mother goddess, and may be connected to reproduction and birth/rebirth. The design of this piece with one foot slightly placed in front of the other is also derived from Egyptian works of art. (For the type see R.A. Higgins, "Catalogue of the Terracottas in the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities, British Museum, Vol I", London, 1954.) A custom black marble stand is included. Large Greek terracottas of this type are rare, especially in this superb condition, and are seldom seen on the market. Ex: Private Austrian 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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Greek Bronze Figurine Votive Model: Minoan/Mycenaean
Catalogue:
Antiques:
Regional Art:
Ancient World:
Greek:
Bronze:
Pre AD 1000 item# 987732
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$3,675.00
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This extremely rare piece is a model that consists of five bronze figurines. These figurines are votive in nature, and are likely attributed to the Minoan/Mycenaean culture, and date circa LH III, 1400-1100 B.C. The five figurines are approximately 3.5, 3.4, 3.35, 2.0, and 1.75 inches high. The figurines all have a nice light to dark green patina, and there are spotty light brown deposits which are more prevalent on the inside surfaces of the figurines. The figurines are intact, save for the figurine that is approximately 2.0 inches high, which has a missing arm and a crack in the torso. In addition, the largest figurine which is approximately 3.5 inches high, was broken in half and was subsequently repaired with the break being visable. This break in the largest figurine may have been intentional as well, and could have been ceremoniously broken when these figurines were offered as a votive offering. These extremely rare figurines may have been a grave offering, and/or could have been an offering that depicted significant rituals that were associated with rites of passage that involved the dead. This theory was developed by Daniela Lefevre-Novaro, and her theory was supported by the figural terracotta models that were found in the Minoan Kamilari burial complex in Kamilari, Crete. These figural models can now be seen in the Herakleion Archaeological Museum, and date circa LM 1A, 1600-1500 B.C. (See "Coming of Age in Ancient Greece" by Jenifer Neils and John Oakley, Yale University Press, 2003, pp. 40-43. See the attached photo of one of these models.) The five extremely rare bronze figurines offered here are likely three adults and two children, and may represent a family. The arms of all of the figures are seen extended up into the air, and this is an ancient Greek sign of mourning a death, which is often depicted on art from the Greek Late Bronze Age, circa 13th century B.C., and it is therefore logical to assume that the family of figurines seen here may all be mourning a family member. (For two examples of art from the Greek Late Bronze Age that depict images of individuals with raised arms in mourning, see the two larnakes from Tanagra, Greece, which are terracotta chests used as coffins. These pieces can be seen in the Thebes Archaeological Museum, and date circa LH IIIB, 1300-1200 B.C. See attached photos.) The raised arms may also depict and/or represent bull's horns, and these extremely rare pieces may also have served as another type of sacred offering as well, and the exact symbolic representation of these pieces is unknown. What is known, is that these votive pieces represent a culture that made many grave offerings that were grouped together in shrines that were, in many cases, found outside of graves or nearby. The largest bronze figurines have incised line design just above their flared bases, and on the upper torso. This linear artistic incised line design is also seen on many examples of early Greek art from the Late Bronze Age, circa 1300 B.C., down to the Geometric Period, circa 750 B.C. These figurines are also hollow, and have a round hole that is seen where the neck/head may have been attached to the upper torso. The neck/head could have been made from wood, or some other perishable material, and was attached into these holes with a dowel. The majority of these early Greek models are made from terracotta, rather than bronze, and this is another reason why these exceptional figurines are extremely rare. A custom wooden and plexiglas stand is included, and the figurines have a wooden dowel that holds them in place on the stand. These figurines can also be easily removed, as they simply lift off of the stand. Ex: Private German collection. (Additional documentation is available to the purchaser.) I certify that these pieces are authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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Flawless Roman Glass Cup with Ring Base
Catalogue:
Antiques:
Regional Art:
Ancient World:
Roman:
Glass:
Pre AD 1000 item# 924277
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$875.00
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This beautiful piece is a flawless Roman glass cup that is in mint condition, with no chips and/or cracks. This piece is a blue/green glass, is approximately 2.8 inches high by 3.8 inches in diameter, and has attractive root marks with a multi-iridescent patina. This piece dates circa 2nd century A.D.-early 3rd century A.D., and has a ring base which is normally seen on larger pieces that are classified as "bowls". An analogous example is seen in "Roman and Pre-Roman Glass in the Royal Ontario Museum " by John Hayes, Toronto, 1975, no. 178. This piece is an exceptional scarce roman glass cup/beaker that is designed as a larger "bowl" type. Ex: Fortuna Fine Arts, New York. Ex: Private New York collection. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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Rare Etruscan Bronze Horse Amulet: 8th Century BC
Catalogue:
Antiques:
Regional Art:
Ancient World:
Pre AD 1000 item# 678982
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$2675.00
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This extremely rare piece is a bronze horse that was cast in one solid piece. This piece is from the mysterious Etruscan culture and was made circa 8th century B.C. This piece is extremely early for the culture, and this can be seen relative to the artistic style with the elongated neck. This piece was probably part of a necklace that may have been votive, and was most likely thought to have been shamanistic in nature. The stylized horse seen here may have been created as a "spirit" type animal, and this may explain the design. The design of the piece may also be an early Geometric Period convention of art and may not have been intentional as well, but whatever the case, this piece is an extremely rare early Etruscan bronze. This piece had a hoop seen on the top part of the body and this connected the piece to the main body of the necklace by a hoop chain. The hoop seen on the top part of the body may also have been broken in antiquity in order to break the "mana" and/or magic of the piece, and consequently, this piece may also have been votive. There were probably several animals and/or amulets connected to the necklace, and this piece is analogous to a piece that is now seen in the Museo di Villa Giulia, Rome (Inventory no. 53438, listed as being found at Palestrina, dated circa 8th-6th century B.C.) The bronze animals seen in the Museo di Villa Giulia example are approximately one third of the size of the piece offered here. The Museo di Villa Giulia piece is the only known comparable to the piece offered here, and has hand-shaped amulets and small round shields that are connected to the necklace as well. The extremely rare piece offered here is approximately 2.75 inches long by 3 inches high. The dark green patina is superb with dark red highlights, and the dark red highlights are due to a high concentration of tin within the mix of metals. This piece is complete, except for the incomplete hoop, and it sits on a clear custom plexiglas base. Ex: F. Hirsch collection. Ex: Private German collection. I certify that this piece is authentic as to culture, date, and condition:
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