Specialties
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Mixtec Greenstone Penate Figurine
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Antiques:
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Pre Columbian:
Stone:
Pre 1492 item# 924059
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
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This nice piece is a carved greenstone "penate", i.e. "pendant", figurine that is approximately 3.25 inches high. This piece is a larger example, with a higher quality green colored stone, than what is usually seen. This attractive piece is Mixtec, dates circa 1100-1500 A.D., and was worn as a protective amulet. This piece has a bow-drilled hole at the top back side, which allowed this piece to be worn and suspended in an upward position. The body of this piece has a flat backside and is carved with a bi-facial front side. The eyes are bow-drilled and there are string cuts that define the head, torso, and legs. This greenstone piece has a nice patina that has dark black spots and light brown deposits. This piece has also been authenticated by Mr. Robert Sonin in New York. This piece hangs on a custom stand, can quickly be removed, and can easily be worn today on a leather cord. Ex: Arte Primitivo, New York. Ex: Renee Neu collection, New York. (Note: 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 Thracian Silver Bracelet with Horse Heads
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Greek:
Pre AD 1000 item# 599546
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$1875.00
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This beautiful piece is a Greek silver bracelet that is from Thrace in northern Greece. This piece dates circa 4th-3rd century B.C. and it is complete and intact. This piece is solid and can be worn today and it is approximately 2.9 inches in diameter on the outside and 2 inches in diameter on the inside. This piece is heavy and is approximately .45 inches thick all the way around the piece. This piece has two stylized horse heads on the terminal ends and they may be spiritual in nature, as they seem to exude a calm demeanor. This piece was made from one solid sheet of silver and the designs were stamped into the metal, and then the sheet was rolled and hammered into the round form seen here. This piece has an attractive light gray patina and it has nice eye appeal. 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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Superb Greek Classical Period Bronze Ladle
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Antiques:
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Greek:
Bronze:
Pre AD 1000 item# 1138214
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
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This beautiful piece is a Greek bronze ladle that dates circa 5th-4th century B.C. This complete piece is approximately 9.5 inches high, and has a shallow bowl with a verticle handle and an everted duck head terminal. This piece has a high degree of workmanship for a piece of this type, as the duck's head has a delicate small punched round eye and an engraved line that represents the mouth. In addition, the bowl of the ladle was hammered into shape, and the lip is much thicker than the very thin bottom of the bowl, and the round terminal end smoothly transitions to the flat section of the handle. The condition of this piece is superb, and has a beautiful patina with dark green, red, and gold highlights. This piece is also known as a "kyathos", and according to D.E. Strong in "Greek and Roman Gold and Silver Plate", Methuen and Co., Pub., London, 1966, pp. 91-92: "A ladle of this kind, perhaps of the later third century, said to have been found in Akarnanaia, was brought to Athens in 1938, it bears an inscription giving the ancient name of this utensil, the kyathos". Examples of this type, both in bronze and silver, are known in the subsequent Hellenistic and Roman periods, and the Roman types are often referred to as "simpulum". The exceptional piece offered here may also have had a ceremonial use, as well as for everyday table use. This type of piece was also likely used to transfer highly concentrated wine into another vessel which held water, and one could then measure the mixture of wine with water. Another use which perhaps served the same purpose, was that this piece was used at private Greek drinking parties known as "symposia", and was used to transfer wine from the krater to the drinking cups (kylix cups). This exceptional piece is better than most examples, as it has a stunning patina, has a high degree of Classical period workmanship, and has a great deal of eye appeal on it's custom stand. A custom black metal and marble display stand is included. Ex: Private Swiss collection. Ex: Heidi Vollmoeller collection, Zurich, Switzerland. Ex: Christie's Antiquities, London, Oct. 2003, no. 452. Ex: Private New York collection. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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Stunning Graeco-Egyptian Bronze Figure of Winged Eros
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Antiques:
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Greek:
Bronze:
Pre AD 1000 item# 985034
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
Price on Request.
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This stunning bronze figurine is a standing winged representation of Eros, the Greco-Roman god of love. This piece dates circa 1st century B.C., and was likely produced by a Greek artist in Alexandria, Egypt. This piece is approximately 6.5 inches high and stands by itself, such is the exceptional workmanship of this piece. There is also great detail seen on this piece within the wings and braided hair. The patina is as exceptional as the workmanship, and there are dark green, red, and light brown highlights. The surface of this piece was highly polished in antiquity, and this was common relative to Greek Hellenistic bronzes that were produced in Alexandria. One can still see the glossy surface of this piece, and this piece is intact, save for the lower arms and the top of the left wing that is missing. The body of this piece has a slight twist to the torso, an effeminate slim nude body, and one leg extended forward which are all additional attributes of Greek Hellenistic cannons of art, and all of these attributes all come together to emphasize the erotic nature of the Greek god of love, Eros. The erotic design of this piece also places a focus on the petite penis, which appealed to a homosexually inclined society in the late Hellenistic period. The greatest Greek artists produced masterworks of art that fell into this catagory, and this applied especially to Praxiteles, who produced the bronze Apollo Sauroktonos ("Lizard Slayer"), whose slim nude standing body has an analogous look to the piece offered here. (See "Greek Sculpture" by Andrew Stewart, Yale University Press, Vol. I and II, 1990, p. 178-179.) The piece offered here also has a rounded young baby face, and braided hair that is tied in a top-knot. This top-knot likely represents a crown of Isis, and is an Egyptian convention of art. Hellenistic bronzes produced in Alexandria, in many cases, had attributes that repreaented a combination of Gods that were Greek, Roman, and Egyptian. The top-knot seen on this stunning piece is a subtle example of this duality of representation. The piece offered here was likely in a private shrine, as Eros amoung the ancients was worshipped with the same solemnity as his mother Venus, and his influence extended over the heavens, the sea, and the earth, and even the empire of the dead; his divinity was universally acknowledged, and vows, prayers, and sacrifices were daily offered to him. This piece is also from the famed Maurice Nahman collection (1868-1948), who was a dealer who lived in Cairo for many years, and had at least half a century of daily contact with Egyptian antiquities, which resulted in Nahman acquiring virtually unparalleled experience in this subject. This piece stands on a custom plexiglas stand, and the piece and the stand together is approximately 10 inches high. Ex: Maurice Nahman collection.(1868-1948). Ex: Christie's Antiquities, London, April 2004, no. 282.
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Byzantine Bronze Cross with Silver Inlaid Design
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Ancient World:
Byzantine:
Pre AD 1000 item# 1102815
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$875.00
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This attractive piece is a Byzantine bronze cross that has a nice silver inlaid design. This piece dates circa 4th-7th century A.D., and is approximately 1.9 inches high by 1.9 inches high by 1/16th inch thick. This piece has an attractive silver inlaid design which has a detailed "circle-and-line" type design. This piece also has a nice dark green patina with some light green and red surface deposits. There are also five small holes seen in this piece which were likely used to sew this piece into a garment. This piece is in superb condition, and could easily be worn as a pendant today. This piece also comes with a custom black plexiglas display stand, and can easily be removed, as it simply hangs on the stand. Ex: Joel Malter collection, Los Angeles. 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
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Antiques:
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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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Cute Colima Standing Warrior Whistle with Shield
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Antiques:
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Americas:
Pre Columbian:
Pottery:
Pre AD 1000 item# 1047632
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$965.00
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This cute piece is a Colima standing warrior that dates circa 150 B.C.-250 A.D. This piece is approximately 5.5 inches high and is intact, with no apparent repair and/or restoration. This piece is a light red/orange terracotta, and has some minute dark black spotty dendrite deposits. This piece is also a whistle, with an opening at the top and at the back of the hollowed head. The whistle is well made, and makes quite a sharp high-pitched tone. This piece was likely ceremonial, and may have been part of a group ceremony. This type of piece is also known as a "protector" type piece, and is thought to protect the deceased in the afterlife. The standing warrior seen here is nude, and is seen holding the full body length shield with both hands. The shield is leaning against the upper body of the warrior, and only the upper half of his face/head is seen peeking above the upper end of the shield. The design of the curved shield protects a great deal of his body, and it is probable that this stance illustrates the type of warfare that was conducted by the ancient Colima. It is unknown if he is part of a shield wall with many warriors, as was the case of the phalanx formation that was deployed by the ancient Greeks, or if he is simply depicted as an individual warrior in combat. The warrior is also seen wearing a turkey tail feather crest/helmet, and this makes him seem larger than life and more imposing. (A turkey whistle with analogous designed tail feathers, as the crest design seen here, is seen in "Sculpture of Ancient West Mexico" by Michael Kan, Los Angeles County Art Museum, 1989, no.169.) An interesting piece that has a high degree of eye appeal. Ex: Yvette Arnold collection, Dallas, Texas, circa 1970's. Ex: Private Fl. collection. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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Roman Bronze Silenus Applique Figure
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Antiques:
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Roman:
Bronze:
Pre AD 1000 item# 599095
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$965.00
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This superb Roman bronze piece is an applique with the image of Silenus. This piece dates circa 1st century B.C.-1st century A.D., and is in the form of a facing head, with an attached peg that extends about 1.5 inches from the back side of the applique. This piece was probably mounted in an object such as a furniture piece, or a bronze and wooden door, or a composite work or arms such as a Roman shield. A piece with this type of design, with the extended peg, could have fit in a number of objects. The Sileni were native not to Greece, but to Phrygia in Roman Asia, and personified the genii of springs and rivers. Unlike the Satyrs who derive chiefly from the he-goat, the Sileni derive rather from the horse, whose tail hooves, and even ears they possess. This piece clearly shows the horse ears and shows Silenus as a fat old man, snub-nosed, always drunk, who was in the retinue of Dionysus. Silenus was the tutor of Dionysus and had helped him form his character. The diameter of this piece is approximately 1.4 inches and the length is approximately 2 inches. This piece has a dark green patina with red highlights and the detail is superb. There are some dark green mineral deposits seen on the extended peg. This piece is mounted with clay on a custom black/plexiglas base and can easily be removed. Ex: Private German collection. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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Olmecoid Standing Polychrome Mother Goddess
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Antiques:
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Americas:
Pre Columbian:
Pottery:
Pre AD 1000 item# 1022403
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$1,365.00
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This interesting piece is an Olmecoid standing figurine that dates circa 600-300 B.C. This piece is approximately 6 inches high, is a light tan clay, and has a thin light tan to clear polychrome glaze. This piece is intact, and has a solid body and a mold made hollow head, which was attached in antiquity. This figure is seen with both arms at the side, and the hands are positioned at the front holding a paunchy stomach, which indicates that this piece is a fertility and/or mother goddess. In addition, the lower torso is "pear" shaped and has wide hips. This piece also has many classic Olmec artistic style features such as the jaguar-like ears, eyes, and mouth. These features are a combination of human and animal, which are classified as "transformation art", which is a principle stylistic hallmark of Olmec art from central Mexico. This type of Middle Preclassic period fertility figurine has been found in Izapa (Mexico), Kaminaljuyu (Guatemala), and Chalchuapa (El Salvador); and has also been classified as the "Mamom" artistic style, which was produced by a "pre-Mayan" and/or Mayan culture. (For the "Mamom" artistic style, see "Maya, Treasures of an Ancient Civilization", Harry Abrams, Inc. Pub., New York, 1985, pp. 74-75.) This piece is scarce in this intact condition, as most pieces of this type are found broken, and is a much better example than what is normally seen on the market. This piece can also stand by itself. This piece comes with a custom stand, and can easily be removed. Ex: Julio Atalah collection, circa 1940-1967. Ex: Danny Hall collection, Houston, TX., circa 1967-2005. Ex: Saida Cebero collection, Sugarland, TX., circa 2005-2009. Ex: Private Florida collection. I certify that this pice is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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Ottoman Silver Floral Hairpin: c. late 16th Century
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European Medieval:
Pre 1700 item# 800497
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Apolonia Ancient Art
303-321-7351 gallery
$565.00
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This complete piece is an attractive silver hairpin that dates circa late 16th Century ( circa 1560-1590 A.D.). This piece is Ottoman Empire and was likely made in Constantinople, otherwise known as Byzantium. The Byzantine Empire derived it's name from this city, and the floral pattern seen at the terminal end of this piece, is a design pattern that is a Byzantine type as well. The Ottomans adopted this pattern, and is often seen on Ottoman polychrome Iznik tiles from the 16th Century. This piece was worn in the hair and has a loop at the top so that it tied to the body. This piece can easily be worn today in the hair or garmet. This piece is approximately 5.7 inches long, 17.5 grams, and is about 97% pure silver. Interestingly, the weight of this piece is also analogous to the ancient Greek "Attic-Greco Weight Standard" of 17.5 grams for a silver tetradrachm. This piece has some minor wear seen at the top that indicates long use, and this piece can be worn today. A custom stand is included and the piece can easily be removed. Ex: Private New York collection. I certify that this piece is authentic as to date, culture, and condition:
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