From ancient Egypt, 25th Dynasty. Solid bronze Osirus figure representing a Nubian King; with crook and flail, Uraeus with full body of cobra coming down front, head emerging  More »

From ancient Egypt, 25th Dynasty. Solid bronze Osirus figure representing a Nubian King; with crook and flail, Uraeus with full body of cobra coming down front, head emerging ready to strike. 8"H, repaired at midsection/knees and minor damage to plume, else excellent. A large and important example! ProvenanceEx-private Paris, France collection Material Bronze Dimensions 8"H Condition Repaired   « Less

From ancient Egypt, found in Thebes, Upper Egypt, 18th Dynasty. Loosely translated - glyph symbols are of "sa" duck," horus / hor" (youth) , serpent snake "z", cake or bread  More »

From ancient Egypt, found in Thebes, Upper Egypt, 18th Dynasty. Loosely translated - glyph symbols are of "sa" duck," horus / hor" (youth) , serpent snake "z", cake or bread loaf "t", "ankh" eternal life. 5/8"L, intact/excellent condition. ProvenanceEx-Philip Mitry by descent Material Steatite Dimensions 5/8"L Condition Intact   « Less

From ancient Egypt, Green steatite scarab, XII Dynasty, 1906-1888 B.C. "Kheper-Ra-Uzat" = Glory to King Senusert II, protected by the Uzat eye of horus, and symbols of Ra the  More »

From ancient Egypt, Green steatite scarab, XII Dynasty, 1906-1888 B.C. "Kheper-Ra-Uzat" = Glory to King Senusert II, protected by the Uzat eye of horus, and symbols of Ra the sun god all around. 5/8"L, intact/excellent condition. ProvenanceEx-Philip Mitry by descent Material Steatite Dimensions 5/8"L Condition Intact   « Less

Rare style! Ca. 6th century B.C., from the Greek city-state of Boeotia; painted buff terracotta of standing abstract female goddess – possibly of fertility and beauty  More »

Rare style! Ca. 6th century B.C., from the Greek city-state of Boeotia; painted buff terracotta of standing abstract female goddess – possibly of fertility and beauty (beauty is in the eye of the beholder). Arms held to the side, pointed nose and very unusual hairstyle/headdress. 6-1/2"H, head and top headdress re-attached else, quite fine. For similar style, see Dallas Museum of Art. ProvenanceEx-prominent Palm Springs, CA Collection purchased in 1981. Material Pottery Dimensions 6-1/2"H Condition Repaired   « Less

Extremely rare to find three matching pieces! From northern Italy, Etruria, ca. 6th century BC. Pottery grouping consisting of a large Oinochoe and two matching Kylixes; each  More »

Extremely rare to find three matching pieces! From northern Italy, Etruria, ca. 6th century BC. Pottery grouping consisting of a large Oinochoe and two matching Kylixes; each decorated with applied pigment and etched/incised harp and serpentine motifs. Each kylix footed with sweeping handles to the sides. A lovely and rare set of which outside the Boston Museum of Fine Arts is the only one we have ever seen. Oinochoe measures 12"H, each kylix 6-1/2"W to handles. Oinochoe and one kylix repaired froma a couple larges pieces (no new clay, nor hiding of break lines); other kylix intact. ProvenanceEx-private CA and Santa Fe, NM collections. Material Terracotta Dimensions 12"H, Kylix 6-1/2"W Condition Repaired   « Less

Large example! From northern Italy, early Villanovan (pre-Etruscan), ca. 8th to 7th century BC. Constructed of hand-hammered bronze; at some point in its ancient life, bowl  More »

Large example! From northern Italy, early Villanovan (pre-Etruscan), ca. 8th to 7th century BC. Constructed of hand-hammered bronze; at some point in its ancient life, bowl was repaired with the addition of another plate of bronze which was riveted in place. Rivets remaining are indications that vessel once had handles to each side. Large piece measuring 11-1/2"D. ProvenanceEx-private San Diego, CA Collection. Material Bronze Dimensions 11-1/2"D Condition Repaired   « Less

Large Etruscan Terracotta Votive, ca. Late 3rd-Early 2nd Century B.C. The elongated, stylized figure of a male youth with molded head, the lidded eyes with articulated  More »

Large Etruscan Terracotta Votive, ca. Late 3rd-Early 2nd Century B.C. The elongated, stylized figure of a male youth with molded head, the lidded eyes with articulated pupils, the mouth severe, with a mantle pulled up over the back of the head and falling in a single U-shaped fold, a hand in relief on the lower abdomen above the base of the U, the lower body reduced to a cylindrical shaft with drapery folds in low relief, preserving some red pigment throughout. Figures such as this were left at Etruscan shrines in the hopes that the gods would provide a cure for an ailing child. The child is represented as wrapped in swaddling cloth and being held by a caring parent. Rare to find such an intact and large a votive - measuring a very large 29 1/4" (74.3 cm) high. Custom mounted. Provenanceex-Galerie Nina Borowski, Paris; ex-Christie's, NYC. Material Terracotta Dimensions 29 1/4" (74.3 cm)H Condition Intact   « Less

Greece, ca. 2nd century BC. Of fine red clay, mold-made and brown-glazed, the base centered by a rosette, a frieze above depicting garland among which are interspersed  More »

Greece, ca. 2nd century BC. Of fine red clay, mold-made and brown-glazed, the base centered by a rosette, a frieze above depicting garland among which are interspersed dancing goats (certainly a reference to Pan/Satyrs) and large amphorae, above which a continuous band of grape vines compliments the scene. Most of the external surface is covered with relief decoration, including radiating palms and wine cups (kantharoi). Megarian ware was the Greek forerunner to the Roman 'Samian' ware, which was also known as Terra sigillata. During the Hellenistic period (3rd to 1st cent. BC), vessels of chased metals were greatly sought after and potters of the time tried to imitate the form and decoration. The usual decoration would be naturalistic motifs, such as palmettes and rosettes, but sometimes wine cups, animals, cherubs and human figures were also depicted. The usual form of Megarian ware is the small hemispherical bowl with a red, brown or black slip but such bowls are becoming increasingly scarce on the antiquities market. 3-3/8"D x 2-3/8"H, intact/generally excellent, save minor spauling of brown slip around some of the relief decoration. ProvenancePurchased in 2005 from the Archaeological Centre in Old Jaffa, prior to that formerly part of the well-known Denny Pinkus Estate. Material clay Dimensions 3-3/8"D x 2-3/8"H Condition Intact   « Less

From ancient Greece, dating to the second half of the fourth century B.C., ca. 350-300 B.C. Solid bronze vessel typically used as a perfume container, as it held a valuable  More »

From ancient Greece, dating to the second half of the fourth century B.C., ca. 350-300 B.C. Solid bronze vessel typically used as a perfume container, as it held a valuable oil and/or unguent. This example has an exceptional dark emerald-green patina with dark blue and light brown deposits. The detailing is equally impressive, with minute fine lines encircling the body (it took an artist with great skill to engrave these). 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 ( 4-1/2"H.) 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. 3-1/2"H x 3-1/2"D at top, intact/excellent condition. ProvenanceEx-private NYC, NY Collection. ca. 350-300 B.C. Material Bronze Dimensions 3-1/2"H x 3-1/2"D Condition Intact   « Less

Rare example! From ancient Canosa, eastern Italy, ca 350 to 325 BC. Terracotta pouring vessel / wine jug decorated in a deep yellow/golden slip, with fabulous braided handle.  More »

Rare example! From ancient Canosa, eastern Italy, ca 350 to 325 BC. Terracotta pouring vessel / wine jug decorated in a deep yellow/golden slip, with fabulous braided handle. This example was clearly made for funerary uses, as base was deliberately left with large hole. 9"H, intact and choice! ProvenanceEx-A. Gualario Collection, FL acquired in the 1960s. Material Pottery Dimensions 9"H Condition Intact   « Less