This is a very high quality casting, depicting Silenus, dating to the 1st-3rd century AD. A substantial casting with very fine detailing and hand-chasing. The handle measures just under 5-1/2" in height and is 3" at its widest. This would most likely have been the handle to an important vessel used during Bacchic (Dionysiac) revels. This is a heavy, substantial piece of very high quality.
Interesting lot, incl. two round bronze finials, finely decorated / finely engraved with swirly patterns, Roman or darkage, c. 400-1000 AD.
Size: 26-28 mm. tall.
Ex. Old German Collection.
Rare Srivijaya Empire 8 - 10th century bronze beaker for priest ceremonial holy water container, good condition please see picture for detail, size: 9.5 cm diameter, 8 cm height.
Relics of the Nile is pleased to present this quality bronze surgical instrument. The instrument was used as a probe and one end is grooved, which may have been used to hold sutures. There is a nice banded groove design toward the end and the bronze instrument has a lovely ancient olive patina. The instrument itself measures 6 5/8" in length. This comes beautify and professionally framed with a description plaque on the front. The frame size measures 11.25" x 9.25". Roman, Ca. 100 A.D.
Probably a handle for a chest or a door. In the form of the face of a lion depicted in high relief, holding a ring in the gaping jaws, with protruding tongue, incised whiskers and fur, and radiating mane. Mounted. From an old New Jersey collection. Purchased on the NY art market in the early 1980s.
Roman bronze eagle standing with outspread wings on the head of an antelope. The eagle is modeled in the round, tail and wing feathers are engraved. The head of the prey is worked as an attachment.
The eagle on the antelope head is associated to the worship of Jupiter Dolichenus, whose syncretic mystery cult was widespread among Roman soldiers since the time of Vespasian.
Publication record: Sonderliste V, December 1985 sale catalogue, lot no. 40...
A finely preserved lead bust or head of a young aristocrate, 1st. century AD.
Interestingly the features of this bust identical to the features of the young Caligula and surely Julio-Claudian period.
Size: c. 4 cm. tall.
Ex. Old Private collection
Pre-Columbian Nayarit male Kokopelli ca. 300 ad, playing a wood rasp drum with a horned helmet, the Kokopelli of the prehistoric southwest was described as a man with a terribly deformed back, bent over playing a flute with magical powers and was able to communicate with the Gods, I believe this is the grandfather of the prehistoric southwest Kokopelli, meaning the legends of the Kokopelli didn't start in the southwest but much further south. Every legend had to start somewhere...
A nicely made ancient gold ring with a Dark Red ruby setting from Southeast Asia. Over 1,000 years old.
Weight: 4.35 grams.
A wonderful sculptural Roman terracotta figural group of Aphrodite leaning on Amphora to her right and holding the hand of the small winged Eros to her left, Early Roman Imperial, c. 1st. century AD.
Size: 16,2 cm.
Condition: Extremely fine, intact and great for the type.
Ex. Old Private Collection, aquired before 1980.
Tang dynasty Changsha bowl with rare motif, good condition with small touch up at the rim, please see picture for detail, size: 16 cm diameter.
Appealing Etruscan chalice with shallow rounded floor and slightly reentrant, straight wall. Standing on a low conical foot.
Similar, Pandolfini Aste Firenze, June 2013 sale, part of lot no. 246
Ceramic, buccheroid impasto
Etruscan, 600-550 BC
H. 8.1 cm (3.2 in)
D. 14.5 cm (5.7 in)
Intact, fine condition. Carefully burnished surface.
Swiss private collection.
The authenticity of the object is unconditionally guaranteed.
Ancient Near Eastern "MESOPOTAMIAN" stone amulet of a fish with nice incised details, dating to around 2000 BC
Measurements: Length: 3.5 cm - Height: 1 cm
condition: Intact as found
For thousands of years, since before recorded history, man has worn amulets and talismans for luck and protection. The stones, feathers, teeth and claws that adorned early cultures eventually gave way to an array of amulets whose powers were as varied as their forms...
Larger architectural Roman marble fragment, weighing c. 1000 grams.
A 15 cm. long and 11 cm. tall Roman marble from an architectural structure, showing a repeating vaseform or rhombic decoration on steps. A nice and inexpensive piece of Roman sculptural art in marble.
Provenance: Collection of Gunna Munkvad, Denmark, aquired from the 1950s-1980s.
Interesting lot of 5 ancient miniature glass vessels, in the shape of jars, bowls and bottles, 3rd.-6th. cent. AD.
Very nice lot with iridescence, measuring up to 27 mm.
Ex. Old Danish Collection, bought the 1980s.
Ancient beautiful well designed Pyu gold bead from the 5th century.These beads were made from natural occurring gold. When tested it is 22 karat gold with traces of silver and copper.
Weight:4,84 grams Size: See last photo
This is one of my favorites from the Heflin ceramic collection. It has been broken and glued back together and is missing parts. Dr. Allen Heflin found this piece in Xico, Mexico in 1960 according to his journal. He must have hung it on his wall since he glued a wire to the back. This is a clear representation of a man either emerging or being swallowed by Quetzalcoatl. It is 6" long by 5" wide. The imagery scrams pre-Columbian. It is attributed to the Aztec culture C1300AD.
Fine Imperial Roman Marble Modillion or Corbel with Acanthus leaf , very rare and well carved with its bound papyrus buds and delicate acanthus tendrils and flowers. This piece dates to the 1-2nd c AD and has a wrought iron attachment at the back and a slightly tapered end to compensate for its attachment to the front pediment of a building to compensate for the visual angle of the pediment , in the pictures listed is one of the front of Romes Pantheon's pediment with near identical modillions...