Art/Auctions: Antiquities auction of Collection of the late Clarence Day at Christie's December 9, 2010

Lot 9, bust of Antinous, marble, Roman Imperial, reign of Hadrian, circa AD. 130-138, 33 inches high

Lot 9 is a large and impressive marble bust of Antinous that is 33 inches high and is missing its nose and right shoulder. It dates to Roman Impeerial, reign of Hadrian, circa AD 130-138. It was found in the Golan Heights and was once in the collections of M. Pérétié, Chancellor of the French Consulate in Beirut from 1879-1882, Louis de Clercq from 1882-1901 and Robin Symes in London. The catalogue notes that Antinous was Hadrian's "favorite." The lot has an estimate of $2,000,000 to $3,000,000. It sold for $23,826,500, the third highest price ever achieved at auction for an antiquity.

A press release after the auction from Sotheby's said that "auctioneer Hugh Hildesley opened the bidding at $900,000 and two clients in the room and one on the phone began to battle. The winning bidder, a European collector, entered the fray at $6.5 million and prevailed against the three existing bidders as well as another client who only joined the competition at $11.2 million. In all, it took more than eleven minutes for the lot to sell and when the hammer finally fell the room broke out in applause."

Lot 7, head of Aphrodite, marble, Roman Imperial, circa Early 2nd Century A.D., 12 1/4 inches high

Lot 7 is a beautiful Roman Imperial marble head of Aphrodite, circa Early 2nd Century A.D. It is 12 1/4 inches high and has a modest estimate of $100,000 to $150,000. It sold for $182,500.

Lot 8, "head of the Athena Vescovali, marble, Roman Imperial, circa 1st Century A.D., 9 3/4 inches high

Another very beautiful work is Lot 8, a marble Roman Imperial head of the Athena Vescovali, circa 1st Century A.D. It is 9 3/4 inches high and Athena is wearing a Corinthian helmet and is excellent condition except for a slightly smashed nose and a small missing piece of marble on the left side of her chin. The lot has an estimate of $125,000 to $175,000. It sold for $158,500.

Lot 17, head of a man, marble, Roman Imperial, Julio-Claudian, Probably reign of Nero, circa A.D. 54-68, 14 1/2 inches

Lot 17 is a Roman Imperial, Julio-Claudian, probably reign of Nero marble head of a man, circa A.D. 54-68. It is 14 1/2 inches and in marvelous condition. It has an estimate of $200,000 to $300,000. It sold for $458,500.

Lot 22, Zeus or Poseidon, bronze, Late Hellenistic Period/Early Roman Imperial, circa 1st Century B.C./1st Century A.D., 8 1/2 inches high

Lot 22 is a very fine bronze figure of Zeus or Poseidon that dates from the Late Hellenistic Period/Early Roman Imperial, circa 1st Century B.C./1st Century A.D. It is 8 1/2 inches high and was once in the collection of Mathias Komor in New York. It has an estimate of $60,000 to $90,000. It sold for $46,875.

Lot 4, figure of a warrior, bronze, Greek, circa 530-520 B.C., 5 5/8 inches high

Lot 4 is a very fine Greek bronze figure of a warrior, circa 530-520 B.C. It is 5 5/8 inches high and was once in the collection of Christos G. Bastis (see The City Review article). It has an estimate of $300,000 to $400,000. It sold for $662,500. It had been offered at Sotheby's December 9, 1999 when it had an estimate of $200,000 to $300,000 and sold for $387,500. The catalogue notes that a similar figure is in the Ortiz Collection and they probably both came "from the same votive ensemble, such as vessel and tripod, or the like." The figure's left hand once held a circular shield and the right hand a spear."Cast solid and in remarkable condition, the warrior represents the finest in quality of late 6th Century B.C. Archaic-period Greek sculpture," according to Sotheby's.

Lot 3, horse, bronze, Greek, Geometric Period, circa 8th Century B.C., 5 3/4 inches high

Lot 3 is a fine Greek bronze horse from the Geometric Period, circa 8th Century B.C. It is 5 3/4 inches high and was once in the collection of Mathias Komor of New York. It has an estimate of $150,000 to $250,000. It sold for $842,500.

Lot 25, Sphinx of Egyptian queen, green porphry, Roman Imperial, circa 1st Century A.D., probably reign of Domitian,A.D. 81-96, 37 1/2 inches long

Lot 25 is a Roman Imperial green porphry sphinx of an Egyptian queen that is 37 1/2 inches long and circa 1st Century A.D., probably reign of Domitian, A.D. 81-96. It was once in the collection of Hagop Kevorkian of New York. Considerable controversy remains about this imposing work as to its origins. According to the catalogue it is closely related to a black sphinx inscribed with hieroglyphics that was found in a garden behind the apse of the Church of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva in Rome in 1856-8. That church was built on the ruins of a temple to Isis and Serapis, the Iseum Campense that was expanded by Emperor Domitian. This sphinx has no hieroglyphics. The lot has an estimate of $800,000 to $1,200,000. It sold for $5,234,500.

Lot 27, Djehuty-Mose (Tothmes), polychrome limestone ushabti, Egyptian 19th Dynasty,1292-1190 B.C., 12 3/8 inches high

Lot 27 is an Egyptian polychrome limestone ushabti of Djehuty-Mose (Tothmes), overseer of the cattle in the temple of Amun, 19th Dynasty, 1292-1190 B.C. It is 12 3/8 inches high and was once in the collections of Omar Pacha Sulton of Cairo and Mathias Komor of New York. It has an estimate of $200,000 to $300,000. It sold for $1,314,500.

Lot 26, relief, limestone, Egyptian, 6th Dynasty, 2360-2195 B.C., 21 1/4 by 17 3/4 inches

Lot 26 is an extremely fine Egyptian limestone relief of a man that is 6th Dynasty, 2360-2195 B.C. It measures 21 1/4 by 17 3/4 inches and was with Mathias Komor in New York in 1979. The catalogue notes that it probably comes from the right side of a false door from the necropolis at Saqqara. It has an estimate of $150,000 to $250,000. It sold for $110,500.

The auction has several excellent small pieces.

Lot 30, cat, bronze, Egyptian, 22nd/26th Dynasty, 944-525 B.C., 3 1/8 inches high

Lot 30 is an exquisite small bronze Egyptian cat from the 22nd/26th Dynasty, 944-525 B.C. It is 3 1/8 inches high and was once in the collection of Mathias Komor of New York in 1983. The figure has striated detail and is wearing a neklace with Eye of Horus pendant and the fur and the pendant are inlaid in gold. It has an estimate of $50,000 to $80,000. It sold for $314,500.

Lot 35, lion, bronze, Urartu, circa Late 8th Century B.C., 2 3/8inches long

Lot 35 is a very nice bronze lion from Urartu, circa Late 8th Century B.C. It is 2 3/8 inches long and the catalogue notes it is probably from a candelabrum. It has an estimate of $20,000 to $30,000. It sold for $37,500.

Lot 34, warrior on horseback, bronze, Iberian, circa 5th/4th Century B.C., 3 inches high

Lot 34 is a delightful and quite fine Iberian bronze warrior on horseback from circa 5th/4th Century B.C. It is 3 inches high. The rider wears a baldric across his chest and his shield is attached at the back and he has a sword lying on his chest and his face has very carefully modeled eyes and ears. It has an estimate of $7,000 to $10,000. It sold for $25,000.

Lot 36, leaping panther handle, bronze, Parthian, circa 1st/2nd Century A.D., 5 3/8 inches long

Lot 36 is a fine Parthian bronze patera or incense burner handle in the form of a leaping panther. Circa 1st/2nd Century A.D., it is 5 3/8 inches long and was once with Mathias Komor in New York in 1977. It has an estimate of $6,000 to $9,000. The panther appears to wearing a necklace of ivy leaves. It sold for $5,000.

Lot 23, mask of a comic actor, bronze, Roman Imperial, circa 1st Century A.D., 6 1/2 inches high

Lot 23 is a very impressive Roman Imperial bronze mask of a comic actor, circa 1st Century A.D. It is 6 1/2 inches high and was once in the collection of Mathias Komor of New York. It has an estimate of $60,000 to $90,000. It sold for $242,500.