Specialties
|
Impressive Greek Geometric Bronze Bead Necklace
Catalogue:
Antiques:
Regional Art:
Ancient World:
Greek:
Bronze:
Pre AD 1000 item# 958827
|
click for details
|
Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$2,375.00
|
This impressive piece is a Greek bronze bead necklace, and this necklace is comprised of solid cast bronze beads that date to the Geometric period circa 750-700 B.C. This necklace is made from 13 beads which together measure approximately 17.75 inches end-to-end. All of the bronze beads are conical in design, and seven of the larger beads have a raised terminal end. The largest central bead has double-raised ridge terminal ends, and this bead is approximately 2.75 inches long. The other six largest beads measure approximately 1.5, 2, 2.4, 2.3, 1.75, and 1.25 inches long. The smaller six beads are approximately .5 to .75 inches long. These beads have an attractive dark green patina, and are all in superb condition. These beads are strung on a leather cord, and can be worn as is, or can easily be separately mounted into several different works of jewelry. The weights of the beads vary widely, and the central bead weighs approximately 29.4 gms. The other six larger beads weigh approximately 15.5, 33.5, 59.8, 30.7, 29.5, and 12.1 gms. These beads were separately hand cast, and they are all slightly different in size and weight. Two of the larger beads also have a hole from the central shaft, which probably allowed for the addition of pendants and/or other beads which hung down from these two beads. These beads were likely worn in life, as well as being votive, and are now scarce in the market. As a group, these pieces have a high degree of eye appeal and display very well. Ex: Private New York collection. I certify that these pieces are authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
|
|
Splendid Greek Apulian Squat Lekythos
Catalogue:
Antiques:
Regional Art:
Ancient World:
Greek:
Pottery:
Pre AD 1000 item# 821520
|
click for details
|
Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$1675.00
|
This splendid Greek Apulian squat lekythos dates circa mid 4th century B.C., and is approximately 5.8 inches high. This piece has a draped woman standing to the right and she is seen looking back to the left, holding a white dotted decorative plate in her right hand, and holding a white dotted decorative wreath in her left hand. The drapery of the standing woman has very fine detail, and is better than most examples. There is a circle dot behind her body and a large palmette on the back side below the handle. For another piece of this type with a single draped woman, see Sotheby's Antiquities, New York, June 2008, no. 87 ($600.00-$900.00 estimates, $3,438.00 realized.) The piece offered here is intact, save for the spout that has been re-attached. There are spotty white calcite deposits and the overall condition is superb. Ex: Private German collection. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
|
|
Mint Greek Bronze Illyrian Helmet with Stunning Patina
Catalogue:
Antiques:
Regional Art:
Ancient World:
Greek:
Bronze:
Pre AD 1000 item# 793283
|
click for details
|
Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
Price on Request
|
This mint quality bronze helmet is of the Illyrian type, and has the open face and covered ears. This intact piece is in mint condition and has a superb dark green/brown patina, with light blue, light yellow, light green, and spotty red highlights. In fact, the stunning patina seen on this helmet is certainly one of the finest seen on a helmet of this type. There are also attractive inner surface mineral deposits, which add to the exceptional eye appeal of this piece. This piece was made by hammering one solid sheet of bronze into the shape that is seen. There are minute bronze rivets that were individually applied to the outer perimeter of this piece, and this process was very labor intensive. These rivets are very decorative and may have supported a leather webbing, which attached to a leather core that served as an inner pad. There is also a well defined crest box seen at the top, a crest pin hole at the back, and a crest pin seen at the front. There is a single line seen in the forehead area, and this design provides extra strength to the helmet. This piece dates circa 6th century B.C., is approximately 12 inches high, and is a full sized example. This top quality piece compares to the Axel Guttmann example that was offered by Christie's Antiquities, South Kensington, London, "The Art of Warfare, The Axel Guttmann Collection, Part 1", Nov. 2002, no. 55. (Realized 14,100 pounds.) This piece is also analogous in type and quality to the examples offered in Sotheby's Antiquities, New York, June 2000, no. 73. (Realized $32,950.00); and Christie's Antiquities, New York, June 2008, no. 167. ($30,000.00-$50,000.00 estimates, $40,000.00 realized.) The exceptional mint quality helmet offered here is classified as a "Type II" Illyrian helmet, as seen in "Antike Helm", Lipperheide and Antikenmuseums Collections, Mainz, Germany, 1988, pp. 48-52. The other examples cited here are also classified as "Type II". The piece offered here is one of the finest known examples of it's type, and compares with the auction quality examples cited here, as the helmet offered here, and all of the helmets cited above are all intact and have exceptional patinas. This helmet may be the finest example available on the world market today due to its exceptional quality, the fact that this piece was not over cleaned, and that it has an exceptional multi-colored patina which is one of the best. A custom metal stand is included, along with two large x-rays which show a great deal relative to the construction and quality of the piece. Ex: Private English collection. Ex: Fortuna Fine Art, New York, New York. Ex: Private New York collection. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
|
|
Greek Seated Terracotta Goddess with Pleasing Smile
Catalogue:
Antiques:
Regional Art:
Ancient World:
Greek:
Pottery:
Pre AD 1000 item# 956731
|
click for details
|
Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$865.00
|
This piece is a Greek terracotta that is a seated goddess, probably Demeter. This piece dates circa 500 B.C., is approximately 7.5 inches high, and is probaby Corinthian from mainland Greece. (For the type, see "Classical Terracotta Figures" by James Chesterman, Ward Lock Limited Pub., London, 1974, no.41.) This goddess is seen seated on a throne and is wearing a Greek Doric peplos, which was made of wool, and she is seen fully draped with folds seen on the arms and at the feet. This piece is a light red terracotta, and has light brown earthern deposits seen on the inner and outer surfaces of this piece. In addition, there are spotty traces of white pigment that was used as a base paint, as this piece was originally painted with several colors. This piece has some minor repair, and was repaired from three large fragments. This repair also appears to be quite aged, and although this piece has some minor repair, this piece is an exceptional example, due to the pleasing archaic smiling facial expression and the design of the drapery. The pleasing smiling expression seen on this piece gives this piece a serene feeling, and the drapery design conveys that this goddess is not a young woman, which defines Demeter, rather than Persephone. Demeter was the great Greek Earth-goddess, patroness of fertility and goddess of the Eleusinian Mysteries; one of the twelve major Olympian gods and one of the six children of Cronos and Rhea. This piece was likely a grave offering, and as such, promoted eternal life and fertility. This nice piece easily conveys the identity of the figure that is depicted (Demeter), and this is a scarce attribute relative to Greek terracottas. Ex: Private German collection. (Additional documentation is available to the purchaser.) I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
|
|
Three Greek Corinthian Vessels: c. 6th century B.C.
Catalogue:
Antiques:
Regional Art:
Ancient World:
Greek:
Pottery:
Pre AD 1000 item# 956245
|
click for details
|
Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$865.00
|
These three pieces are being offered as one lot, as they are made from the same light red/tan clay fabric, and have similar light tan earthern deposits that have minute root marking. These three intact pieces are all classified as being Greek Corinthian, and date circa mid 6th century B.C. The first piece is an aryballos, that is approximately 2.25 inches high. This petite piece has some dark brown design elements that are seen at the rounded base, and is in superb condition, save for some unobtrusive chips that are seen below the lip. The second piece is a thin walled skyphos, that is approximately 3.1 inches high by 6 inches wide handle to handle. This piece is also in superb condition, save for a minute chip at the base that may be from antiquity. The third piece is a exaleiptron, otherwise known as a "kothon" or "cothon", which was used as a funerary ritual vessel that contained aromatic oil. This piece is also in superb condition, save for a minute chip at the end of one of the two handle flares. This vessel has a low foot ring and has traces of geometric light brown painted line design under the earthern deposits. All three of the superb vessels offered here may have been used in a votive funerary ritual as well, and are scarce in this "as found" condition. Corinthian vessels, such as the three examples offered here, were also exported throughout the ancient Greek world during the 6th century B.C., and competed for markets with ancient Greek Attic ceramics. An interesting group that is being offered as one lot. Ex: Arte Primitivo, New York. Ex: Private New York collection. I certify that these pieces are authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
|
|
Cute Greek Boeotian Terracotta of Seated Infant
Catalogue:
Antiques:
Regional Art:
Ancient World:
Greek:
Sculpture:
Pre AD 1000 item# 934849
|
click for details
|
Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$2675.00
|
This cute Greek terracotta is a smiling seated infant that is seen holding a rooster. This scarce piece dates circa 350 B.C., is approximately 3.5 inches high, and is in mint condition with no repair and/or fill. This piece has an original thin white slip that covers the majority of the piece, and this was used as a base for additional pigments that were applied to the piece. The smiling chubby infant is seen looking down at the rooster that is held with his left arm, and he is nude, except for some drapery seen over his right leg. This image of a chubby infant is seen in other examples that were produced in Athens and Tanagra in Boeotia, and this piece was probably a grave offering for a child, or was an offering to a sanctuary with deities that were concerned with child care or fertility. The rooster for the ancient Greeks also represented a pugnacious spirit in boys, and were favored as domestic pets. They also brought in the new day and represented renewal and new life, which suits this piece as a grave offering. There was also an erotic side as well, in addition to an agonistic side to roosters in ancient Greece, as they were often love gifts of older men to young boys. In ancient Greek myth, the Trojan prince Ganymede is often depicted with a rooster given to him by Zeus. (The type of terracotta offered here can be seen in "Coming of Age in Ancient Greece, Images of Childhood from the Classical Period", by Jenifer Neils and John Oakley, Yale University Press Pub., 2003, nos. 40 and 94. No. 40 is seen in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and is 5.8 cm high, and dates circa 330-310 B.C. This piece is also seen seated on a square base, and has an analogous body and face to the piece offered here.) The type of terracotta offered here is seldom seen on the market, and Munzen Und Medaillen A.G. in Basel, Switzerland, had an analogous piece listed for 3600 S.F. in October 1980 in "Terrakotten Der Antike, List S". This piece is a wonderful example of ancient Greek Classical period art that is in mint condition. Ex: J.J. Klejman Gallery, New York. Ex: Private New York collection. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
|
|
Beautiful Greek Bronze Fluted Kalyx Cup
Catalogue:
Antiques:
Regional Art:
Ancient World:
Greek:
Bronze:
Pre AD 1000 item# 633629
|
click for details
|
Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$2675.00
|
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. 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. 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. 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 design seen on the vessel offered here. This piece is approximately 4.4 inches in diameter by 3 inches high, and is a large example. The workmanship is also better than what is usually seen and this piece was probably made for the table of a wealthy individual, as it was 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:
|
|
Philip II Bronze (AE) 18 Coin with Superb Patina
Catalogue:
Antiques:
Regional Art:
Ancient World:
Greek:
Bronze:
Pre AD 1000 item# 875428
|
click for details
|
Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$285.00
|
This Greek bronze coin is classified as an AE 18, and was minted by Philip II circa 359-336 B.C. The classification as an AE 18, derives from the average diameter of this type of coin which is approximately 18mm in diameter. The obverse displays the bust of Apollo seen facing the the left, and the reverse, shows a naked youth on a running horse that is facing right. The reverese has the name of Philip above and below, is a monogram which may be a mint control mark. This piece has a lustrous superb dark green patina that is much better than other examples of this type, and has a Very Fine Plus grade. See David Sear, "Greek Coins and Their Values, Vol. II", Seaby Pub., London, 1979, no. 6698 for the type. Ex: Private CA. collection. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
|
|
Greek Sub-Mycenaean Terracotta Amphora: 900-600 B.C.
Catalogue:
Antiques:
Regional Art:
Ancient World:
Greek:
Pottery:
Pre AD 1000 item# 594153
|
click for details
|
Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$465.00
|
This attractive piece is a Greek terracotta amphora that dates circa 1100-700 B.C., and is Sub-Mycenaean (Iron Age I & II). This light red terracotta is intact and has nice heavy white calcite deposits seen within the vessel. There are also spotty white calcite deposits seen on the outside surface and the inner surface has traces of root marking. This piece was probably used a table ware vessel and is approximately 4.6 inches high. A nice intact vessel with good eye appeal. Ex: Private New York collection. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
|
|
Greek Bronze Caltrop War Spike: 4th century B.C.
Catalogue:
Antiques:
Regional Art:
Ancient World:
Greek:
Bronze:
Pre AD 1000 item# 592140
|
click for details
|
Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$1275.00
|
This scarce piece is a Greek bronze spike that is in the form of a jack. This piece dates circa 4th century BC and is approximately 2.5 inches high. This piece is known as a "caltrop" and was used on the battlefield against tightly packed infantry and cavalry formations. This piece was spread out in an area that was in need of protection, and was an effective weapon when hundreds of these would be strategically placed in an area unknown to the enemy. This weapon was especially effective against cavalry, and placing these pieces was such that whatever way it chanced to fall, one spike would always point upwards. In the battle of Gaugamela circa 331 BC, Alexander the Great had advance knowledge that Darius had planted these in the soil. The surface caltrop seen here was easy to distribute, but the buried ones must have been more insidious, as even the type seen here would stop a man or a horse in his tracks. In reality, this piece may be the world's first anti-personal mine. It may also be that Philip II, the father of Alexander the Great, first developed this weapon. At the battle of Chaeronea circa 338 BC, the combined armies of Athens and Thebes met the Macedonian army under Philip II and his son, Alexander. Philip easily won the day with his force of heavily equipped cavalry, and historians have had trouble explaining exactly why the Athenian cavalry did not effectively get into the action. It may be because of the weapon seen above, as the Athenian cavalry was known to have been stationed on the wings of the Athenian infantry formation, and may have mounted an attack on the Macedonian wing where this weapon could have been spread. On the other hand, the Macedonian heavy cavalry attacked into the gaps in the center of the Athenian and Theban force. If this scenario is true, then this weapon could have changed the face of history in a bigger way than what is now known. These pieces are now rare to extremely rare, as after a battle they were collected to be used again or melted down into another object. This piece has a dark green patina with some calcite deposits and was cast as one piece. An interesting and rare ancient work of armour. Ex: Private English collection. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
|
|
|
|
|
