Expertly curated treasures of Ancient Egypt, Rome, Near East and China selected for Apollo’s special June 11 online-only auction

Featured: Unusual Egyptian ceramic funerary mask, monumental bronze of Venus, white marble head of Dionysus, Roman gold jewelry & glass; carved marble statue of Bodhisattva, medieval swords

LONDON – Collectors of ancient art and antiquities who never miss an Apollo Art Auctions live gallery sale won’t have to wait till the next big in-person event (slated for July) to acquire rare and fascinating treasures for their collections. On June 11, the London-based firm will host a special 495-lot online-only sale of well-provenanced and carefully authenticated artifacts from Classical Europe, Egypt and the Near East, with additional art and relics from ancient India and China. Each item entered in this bonus auction has been rigorously vetted by a top specialist from Apollo’s team of experts. 

The auction’s timeline begins in one of the earliest and most influential centers of human progress: Egypt. Known as the “cradle of civilization,” Egypt’s society was advanced beyond measure in science, mathematics and art, yet their overriding focus – some say obsession – was with the afterlife, which they viewed as a continuation of one’s eternal journey. Deceased individuals were bedecked with amulets, jewels and funerary masks for their send-off to the next world. A particularly fine example of this sort of adornment is the auction’s opening lot: a circa 30 BC-323 AD Egyptian polychrome ceramic funerary mask of youthful female. She is shown with braided hair and painted eyebrows, hair, lips, earrings and eyes, which have inset glass panels. The mask was previously the property of an Israeli gentleman and was acquired from Aaron Gallery, Berkeley Square, London, in 2011. Before that, it was part of the Issa collection (early 1980s). The starting bid is £5,000 ($6,400).

Along with embalming and mummification, Egyptian funerary rituals included entombing their dead with objects and representations of people, animals and other things that would be useful in the afterlife. A perfect example is the carved and painted wooden model of a boat with six boatmen, which dates to circa 2030-1640 BC. All of the figures are depicted in the classic Egyptian manner, with large, dark-outlined eyes, a cropped black wig, and white loincloth. In the afterlife, they were destined to be servants, ready to row the deceased upon the eternal Nile. Similar to an example in the Met Museum, this model is accompanied by a historical report from Alessandro Neri and can be traced back to an old French collection from the 1970s. Opening bid: £3,000 ($3,830) 

Masterfully executed, a Roman white marble head depicting Dionysus, the god of wine and pleasure, is carved in archaic style with idealized fixed features and dates to circa 200 AD. Its most striking detail is the curly hair that encircles the subject’s forehead and connects to a long polygonal beard and moustache. A similar example is seen in Borghese e l’antico, Skira editore, 2011. Described in Apollo Art Auctions’ catalog as having been part of a “herm” (squared stone pillar topped by a carved head and used in ancient times as a boundary marker or signpost), this substantial sculpture measures 470mm by 300mm (18.5in by 12in) and weighs 50+ kg (110+ lbs). Most recently the property of a London gentleman, this stunning sculpture was previously in a Paris collection and, prior to that, on display at a Parisian gallery from 1970 to 1990. Bidding will open at £22,000 ($28,085).

A monumental Roman bronze statue of Venus, circa 1st-3rd century AD, depicts the goddess in a graceful pose standing on a wooden plinth. Similar to examples in The Walters Art Museum, The British Museum, and Christie’s December 7, 2006 auction, the 340mm/13.4-inch-tall artwork was formerly the property of a London gentleman, with earlier owners going back to 1970 in Paris. Accompanied by an Art Loss Register letter and professional historical report from Ancient Report Specialists, the statue will open at £15,000 ($19,160).

Ancient Romans established the tradition of art glass in the Mediterranean region, and it is a specialty that has gained a devoted following at Apollo Art Auctions. The June 11 selection includes a huge and very attractive Roman plate of greenish-blue glass with an outward-folded rim, hemispherical bowl, applied ring foot and two dolphin-shape handles. Dating to circa 50-300 AD, it passed down through the family of a London collector who was active in the 1970s and ’80s. The plate will be offered with an opening bid of £3,000 ($3,830).

One of many Chinese highlights is a circa 700 AD Sui to Tang Dynasty white marble figure of Bodhisattva. It is an especially well-carved depiction of a standing Buddha with elaborately “jeweled” and decorated hair and robes. Presented on a plinth, it measures 450mm by 110mm (17.7in x 4.3in) and weighs 3.75kg (8lbs 4oz). Its line of provenance includes a London private collection, and Sir Roger Moss, who acquired it in the 1980s in Hong Kong. Its opening bid is £5,000 ($6,385).

Nothing can match the gorgeous luster of old gold as exemplified in a circa 400 BC-300 AD Hellenistic filigreed gold pendant and glass-bead necklace. The round pendant is set with a central oval garnet and four smaller round garnets, and is similar to an example sold at Christie’s Ancient Jewelry Auction #1445. XRF analysis confirmed its metallurgical content, suggesting ancient origin with no modern trace elements. Its line of provenance includes a central London art gallery following acquisition on the art market in Monaco; and an English private collection that was formed between 1996 and 2017. It will convey with an Art Loss Register letter and authentication report by ancient jewelry specialist Sami Fortune. Opening bid: £3,000 ($3,830)

Apollo’s gilt-edged auction jewelry box also contains a Ptolemaic gold finger ring, Henig Type I, that dates to circa 300-100 BC. Its elongated bezel setting encloses a richly-hued carnelian intaglio engraved with the image of a full-bodied crocodile. From its carefully etched scales to its casually curved tail, the well-formed reptile is a most unusual and amusing character to see on jewelry of its age and origin. The ring was most recently part of a Central London private collection, and prior to that, was in a collection formed on UK/European art market prior to 2000. It has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database and is accompanied by an authentication report prepared by ancient jewelry specialist Sami Fortune. The opening bid is set at £3,000 ($3,830).

Understatedly elegant and eminently wearable, a medieval finger ring of 21K gold features a beautiful green emerald cabochon set in a square bezel. It dates to circa 1300-1500 AD and has undergone XRF analysis, which confirmed its metallurgical content and showed it was consistent with ancient origin with no modern trace elements. Formerly in a London private collection, this extremely attractive bauble is accompanied by an Art Loss Register letter and has an opening bid of £3,600 ($4,595).

Apollo Art Auctions’ Tuesday, June 11, 2024 Ancient Art & Antiquities Auction, an online-only event with bidding through LiveAuctioneers, will commence at 8am US Eastern time/1pm GMT. In-gallery viewings can be arranged upon request. Apollo Art Auctions accepts payments in GBP, USD and EUR; and ships worldwide. All packing is handled in-house by white-glove professionals. Questions: call +44 7424 994167 or email [email protected]. Visit Apollo Art Auctions online at www.apolloauctions.com