Lot 57, torso of an Emperor, Roman Imperial, Julio-Claudian, 1st half of 1st Century A.D., marble, 43 5/16 inches high
By Carter B. Horsley
This June 11, 2010 auction of Antiquities at Sotheby's is small in quality but very high in quality with some very impressive Roman sculpture and some nice Egyptian works.
The most spectacular work is Lot 57, a large, Roman marble torso of an emperior from the Roman Imperiod Julio-Claudian Period in the first half of the 1st Century A.D.
The statue is 43 5/16 inches high and although it is missing a head, arms and legs it is an animated pose. It is, in fact, perhaps more impressive than a naked god or goddess that might have smooth and seemingly surfaces as the torso here is clad in a highly ornate uniform with rich sculptural groupings and a marvelously rippled "skirt."
The top of the "skirt" has two rows of highly decorative flaps.
The catalogue suggests that the sculpture probably represents Augustus, Tiberius, or Claudius and is carved in two parts and is standing with the weight on his right leg. It is "wearing a tunic, leather corselet with fringed lappets falling at the waist and shoulders, bronze cuirass, and paludamentum falling from the left shoulder over the back and formerly over the extended left forearm, the bronze brestplate decorated in relief on the chest with the god Sol emerging from the waters in a front quadriga and on the adboment with two Victories flanking a trophy and handing shield onto it, a large inverted palmette below with scrolling acanthus and rosettes on eiter side, the upper row of pteryges decorated with alternativing feline heads above lotus flowers and saddorsed rams' heads above palmettes, the lower row with alternativng gorgoneira and palmettes, a bearded head interrupting the sequence on the right hip."
Lot 29, Three Satyrs Fighting a Serpent, Roman, marble, Roman Imperial, circa 1st Century A.D., 25 1/4 by 31 1/2 inches
Lot 18, Bust of the Athena Giustiniani, Roman, Roman Imperial, marble, circa 2nd Century A.D., 22 5/8 inches high
The classical Greek sculpture prototype known as the "Athena Giustinani" is named after its best preserved and most famous Roman version, a monumental statue of the goddess which was once the pride of the Giustinani Collection in Rome and is now in the Vatican Museums. The Greek bronze original might have been the cult statue of Athena Sunias in the temple dedicated to her at Cape Souunion. Lot 18 appears to be the only known bust of the Athena Giustiniani type originally carved as a bust. It was once in the collection of Baron Joseph van der Elst of Brussels and Biot, a collector of Old Master Paintings. It has an estimate of $600,000 to $900,000. It sold for $4,114,500.
Lot 95, Head of Silenus Emerging From a Calyx, Roman Syria, circa 2nd Century A.D., limestone, 15 inches high
Lot 95 is a charming and impressive and large limestone "Head of Silenus Emerging From a Calyx." It is from Roman Syria,circa 2nd Century, A.D., and is 15 inches high, It has an estimate of $12,000 to $18,000. It sold for $21,250.
Lot 22, head of Pan or a satyr, Roman, rosso antico marble, Roman Imperial, circa 1st Century A.D., 7 inches high
Lot 22 is a smaller but equally animated sculpture of a similar bearded man, perhaps Pan or a satur, from the Roman Imperial Period, circa 1st Century A.D. It is made of rosso antico marble and is7 inches high. It has an estimate of $15,000 to $20,000. It sold for $40,624.
Lot 31, head of Aphrodite, Roman, marble, Roman Imperial, circa 2nd Century A.D., 6 inches high 15-25 18,750
Lot 31 is a good, small, marble head of Aphrodite, also from the Roman Imperial Period, circa 2nd Century A.D. It is 6 inches high and has an estimate of $15,000 to $25,000. It sold for $18,750.
Lot 30, figure of Herakles Wearing the Nemean Lion Skin, Etruscan, terracotta, cira 2nd-1st Century B.C., 22 3/4 inches, 20- 30 $34,375
Lot 30 is a large Etruscan terracotta of "Herakles Wearing the Nemean Lion Skin." It is 22 3/4 inches high and has an estimate of $20,000 to $30,000. It sold for $34,375.
Lot 45, Panther Trapezophoros, Roman, marble, Roman Imperial, circa 1st Century A.D. 27 3/8 inches high
Lot 45 is a striking and quite beautiful Roman marble table leg in the form of a panther. It is Roman Imperial, circa 1st Century A.D. and 27 3/8 inches high. It has an estimate of $25,000 to $30,000. It sold for $53,125.
The auction has several nice Egyptian works. Lot 5 is a superb wooden figure of a woman from the 12th Dynasty, 1938-1759 B.C. It is 12 inches high and has a fine finish. It has a conservative estimate of $7,000 to $10,000. It sold for $16,250.
Lot 9, head of a king, Egyptian, granite, 30th Dynasty, 380-342 B.C., 9 3/4 inches high. Estimate $50,000 to $80,000. It sold for $62,500
Lot 9 is a very fine granite head of a king from the 30th Dynasty, 380-342 B.C. It is 9 3/4 inches high. It has a modest estimate of $50,000 to $80,000. It sold for $62,500.