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Massive Greek Mycenaean Bronze Armlets: X-Rare
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Antiques:
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Ancient World:
Greek:
Bronze:
Pre AD 1000 item# 763998
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$8800.00
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These massive Greek/Mycenaean bronze armlets date circa 1400-1100 B.C. and are extremely rare. Each of these striking armlets were cast as one piece, and are very heavy. These pieces were very valuable in antiquity, as a great deal of bronze went into these pieces, and only a wealthy individual and/or noble wore these pieces as a mark of rank and prestige. These pieces are approximately 3.6 inches in diameter by 2.6 inches high, and were likely worn by a very powerful male individual on the upper arm. These pieces also have some wear on the inner edges, which is a good indication that these armlets were worn over a great deal of time, possibly for the adult lifetime of the individual. The design of these armlets shows at each terminal end, two stylized rams heads with curled horns and dotted eyes, and these recessed dotted eyes are seen at the point where the curled horns connect. These recessed dotted eyes were probably inlaid with precious stones, ivory, or bone. Behind the stylized rams heads are three bands with chevrons within, and between these bands are wavy-line and connecting-spiral symbols. The connecting-spiral symbols are seen as early as the Early Cycladic period, circa 2800-2000 B.C., and are subsequently seen as a principle symbol of the Mycenaean Greek culture circa 1500-1200 B.C. ( For an example of this symbol seen during the Early Cycladic period see "Minoan and Mycenaean Art" by Reynold Higgins, Praeger Pub., New York, 1967, p.54. The example cited is a ceramic vase with incised connecting-spiral line decoration.) The wavy-line symbol is also seen on massive storage jars (pithoi) from Crete, circa 1900-1400 B.C. (Ibid, p.108-109.) These wavy-line designs, seen on these pithoi from Crete, are often seen between bands with chevron designs, and this is very analogous to the design seen on these bronze armlets. The wavy-line designs may also imitate the rope cradles which would have been used to transport these large pithoi which date from the fifteenth century B.C., and many of these examples can now be seen in the British Museum. (See attached photo of a pithoi from the palace of Knossos. Ibid, page 109.) Large scale Greek/Mycenaean bronze jewelry, such as these armlets, are much rarer than ceramics from this period, as bronze from this period was regarded as being very valuable, principally because it could be smelted into weapons. It is also probable that the bronze that went into these extremely rare armlets was from Cyprus, as Cyprus had a vibrant export trade in bronze during the period these armlets were produced circa 1400-1100 B.C., and the Greek/Mycenaean culture was present on Cyprus during this period as well. Waves of Achaeans from the Peloponnese settled in Cyprus circa 1200 B.C., and they brought with them a new style of potttery, new metallurgical techniques, and bronzework. Large scale bronze works were created circa 1200-1100 B.C., including tripod stands decorated with figures in relief, large cauldrons and situlae, and weapons of new types. A four-legged bronze stand, with a composite ring at the top that has a connecting-spiral pattern within, and stylized rams head with spiral horns seen above each leg, is now seen in the Cyprus Museum, Nicosia. This four-legged bronze stand dated 12th century B.C., has very analogous design elements relative to the massive bronze armlets that are offered here, and this leads to the conclusion that these armlets probably fit into this timeframe, but this does not reveal exactly where these extremely rare armlets were produced. However, the artistic style, the use of symbols that are seen on other known works of art, and the large scale size of these armlets does point to Cyprus as the place where these pieces were originally produced. (See "The Civilization of Prehistoric Cyprus", by Vassos Karageorghis, Alpine Fine Arts Pub., New York, 1983, page 210, no. 179. Also, see attached photo of the four-legged bronze stand.) These impressive armlets have a superb dark emerald green patina, with some light blue highlights in sections of the pieces. There is also some heavy mineral deposits on the inner surfaces, and there is some spotty wear, seen on the inner edges and on one side of the outer edge of each armlet. The minor outer wear, seen on the one side of each armlet, also is a good indicater as to which arm each armlet was worn by the owner. These beautiful pieces also sit on custom stands and easily lift off each stand. These armlets are also solid enough to be worn today, although there is a minor stress crack in one of the armlets which can easily be repaired. Ex: Bonhams Antiquities, London. Ex: Private German collection. Ex: Axel Guttmann collection, Berlin. I certify that these pieces are authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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Greek (AE 28) Coin of Rhodos showing Helios/Alexander
Catalogue:
Antiques:
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Ancient World:
Greek:
Bronze:
Pre AD 1000 item# 723302
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$765.00
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This extremely fine coin is a Greek bronze that shows on the obverse, Helios, who is the Greek god of the sun. The sun's rays are represented as the radiate crown worn by Helios. This coin is known as an AE 28, as AE is the symbol for bronze and 28 represents the diameter of the flan, which this coin is (28mm). The reverse shows the rose, which is the civic symbol of the island of Rhodos where this coin was minted circa 167-88 B.C. P-O is seen on each side of the rose and this represents the mint mark for Rhodos. The Helios bust on the obverese also represents Alexander the Great in the guise of Helios, and this rare representation is seen relative to Greek sculpture for the period as well. The quality of this piece is extremely fine, and this coin is rare in this condition. The principle reason for this is that this coin was struck with shallow dies and the design of this type in not very clear, but in this case, this coin is fully struck up and has clear designs and very little wear, if any. This coin is also centered very well and has an attractive dark brown patina. For the type see David Sear, "Greek Coins and Their Values", Vol.2 Asia and Africa, Seaby Pub. 1979, no. 5079. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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Rare Greek Bronze Aryballos Stand
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Antiques:
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Ancient World:
Greek:
Bronze:
Pre AD 1000 item# 944693
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$1265.00
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This rare piece is a Greek bronze stand that was likely made for an aryballos type glass vessel that has a rounded bottom (See attached photo showing a glass aryballos with a rounded bottom that is dated from the same period as the bronze stand offered here). The piece offered here dates circa 7th-6th century B.C., and is approximately 2.8 inches high, by 2 inches in diameter for the upper bowl. This attractive piece is intact, and has a nice dark green patina with some dark green deposits. This piece has some bottom roughness and a minute dent on the upper bowl, otherwise it is in superb condition. This piece is also a two-part construction, with the bowl and the stem cast as separate pieces. The outer bottom of the bowl has nice decorative inset concentric circles that are a hallmark design feature of the Greek Geometric Period, circa 8th-7th century B.C. The base stem has decorative bands that are designed in relief, and this allows one to easily grasp this piece, and in addition, all of these decorative elements give this piece a great deal of eye appeal. A nice rare piece that is seldom seen on the market. Ex: M. Ward Gallery, New York. Ex: Private New York collection. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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Sweet Greek Bronze Squat Lekythos
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Antiques:
Regional Art:
Ancient World:
Greek:
Bronze:
Pre AD 1000 item# 768450
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$3675.00
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This sweet Greek bronze vessel is known as a "squat lekythos", and dates to the second half of the fourth century B.C., circa 350-300 B.C. This intact vessel is approximately 3.5 inches high by 3.5 inches wide at the top. This attractive piece has an exceptional emerald dark green patina with dark blue and light brown deposits. There are also minute lines that are extremely fine that run around the main body of the vessel, and it took an artist with a great deal of skill to engrave these fine lines around the vessel. This type of vessel was used as a perfume vase, as it contained a valuable oil and/or unguent. The very wide, funnel-shaped mouth enabled one to control the flow of the liquid and this also served as a platter for application. This piece was used by a wealthy woman, as this type of vessel is rare in bronze, and this vessel was an essential component of her toiletry. An analogous example was sold in Christie's Antiquities, New York, June 2001, no. 165 ( $5,000.00-$7,000.00 estimates, $5,875.00 realized.) Another example of this type ( 4.25 inches high.) was found in Grave Beta, Dervini, Greece, and is now seen in the Museum of Thessalonike. For this piece see "The Search for Alexander" by N. Yalouris, Little, Brown and Company Pub., 1980, no. 133, page 169. This type of vessel was also produced in silver and is extremely rare, and usually does not have the fine line design as the piece offered here shows. Ex: Private New York collection. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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Mint Greek Bronze Illyrian Helmet with Stunning Patina
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Ancient World:
Greek:
Bronze:
Pre AD 1000 item# 793283
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
Price on Request
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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.); and Christies Antiquities, New York, June 2010, no. 78. ($30,000.00-$50,000.00 estimates, $50,000.00 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. The example offered here also has an additional feature that the other examples cited here do not have, and that is this piece has a raised line at the back which is seen below the crest box. (See attached back side photo.) This line faintly continues around the sides of the helmet as well. This horizontal line was designed to deflect verticle sword blows and strengthen the helmet, and the curved neck guard at the back was also designed for this reason as well. This helmet may be the finest example available on the world market today due to its exceptional quality, and the fact that this piece was not over cleaned, and in addition, this piece 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:
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Greek Geometric Bronze Votive Oinochoe Pendant
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Antiques:
Regional Art:
Ancient World:
Greek:
Bronze:
Pre AD 1000 item# 595357
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$425.00
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This Greek bronze oinochoe is known as a "votive pendant" and dates from the Geometric Period, circa 8th-7th century B.C. This piece is approximately 2 inches high and is mounted on a custom clear/marble stand with clay, so it can easily be removed. This piece was votive and was used as an offering in a temple, or a grave, and was also made for use as an offering at an oracle site such as Dodona or Delphi. This piece is in the form of an oinochoe which was used primarily for pouring wine, and as a sacred offering, it served as a wine offering as well. This piece has a dark brown/green patina and there are heavy mineral deposits seen on the inside of the vessel. An interesting piece and an early Greek bronze. Ex: Bonhams Antiquities, London. Ex: Private English collection. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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Greek Geometric Period Bronze Spiral Torque
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Antiques:
Regional Art:
Ancient World:
Greek:
Bronze:
Pre AD 1000 item# 943469
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$925.00
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This solid piece is a nice Greek bronze torque that dates to the Geometric Period, circa 1000-800 B.C., and this type of piece has been found in central Europe and the Balkins. This piece is approximately 5.2 inches in diameter at its widest point, and has a nice dark green patina with some spotty dark green deposits. This piece was also able to flex, so that the wearer could easily slip the piece onto the neck, and this was also made easier due to the curved and rounded terminal ends that curve back away from the center. This piece has four sides from the terminal ends, and then graduates into a round, twisted spiral through the main body of the piece. In addition, this piece has an uniform diameter and this piece took a great deal of metallurgical skill to produce, due to the reasons noted above, and is a scarce piece in this superb condition. This piece was probably made for a young man or a woman, given the diameter of the piece, and was probably worn in life as well as serving as a votive grave offering. This piece can be worn today and is one of the best examples, as it is in superb condition with no cracks and/or repair, and has an exceptional patina. (Another example of this type and quality was offered at Bonhams Antiquities, London, April 2009, no. 288, 1,500-2,000 pound estimates.) Ex: Bonhams Antiquities, London, Dec. 1996, no. 45. Ex: Private New York collection. 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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