FINE ANCIENT ART & JEWELLERY: Apollo Art Auctions
Gary Roskin –
Roskin Gem News Report –
Apollo Art Auctions might not be on your list, but it is on ours. Apollo Art Auctions is a central London house that offers Ancient and Medieval works. We keep an eye open for anything gem news worthy, and this month, we have some pretty amazing B.C. dated gem-set jewels.
This review is from December’s Fine Ancient Art & Jewellery auctions as well as an upcoming January 25th auction. It showcases a wide selection of Egyptian, Phoenician, Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Asian antiquities ranging from 40th century BC to 16th century AD. We have a selection of gem-set jewels from this past sale and the upcoming sale.
Most of these ancient art auctions have little to do with gem-set jewels. However, even with highlights that included a rare Egyptian black granite sphynx head of a pharaoh of the XXVth Dynasty (747-653 BC) (see image below) we saw that there were lots of jewels, including a matching pair of Greek gold earrings with carved carnelian dolphins, and an amazing carved amethyst scarab and gold ring.
Rare Egyptian black granite sphynx head of pharaoh of the XXVth Dynasty (747-653 BC)
[probably Taharqa (690-971 BC)].
Size: 130mm x 120mm (5.1in x 4.7in).
Sold £38,000
Egyptian
Ca. 664 – 332 BC.
A gold swivel ring set with a deep violet-purple amethyst, oval-shaped scarab.
The upper body of the scarab is intricately carved, displaying detailed motifs, while the underside remains flat and unworked.
The accompanying gold ring consists of a minimalistic, thin round-section hoop, embellished with three decorative ring elements.
A curved frame securely holds the scarab in place.
Est. £1,500 – £3,000
PAIR OF GREEK GOLD EARRINGS WITH CARNELIAN DOLPHINS
Hellenistic Period, Ca. 300 – 100 BC.
A pair of matching gold earrings. Each one is comprised of a disc that houses an attractive rosette with petals delineated in granules of wire connected to a dolphin-shaped carnelian pendant pierced on the top of the back.
All is suspended from a hooked wire on the verso of the floral disk.
Sold £2,800
ROMAN CARNELIAN INLAY WITH BUST OF MARS
Ca. AD 100 – 300
A carnelian intaglio carefully carved with the profile of the god Mars, facing right.
The young, clean-shaven male wears an Attic helmet with a plume of feathers, characteristic of Mars.
Size: 17mm x 15mm
Sold £220
EGYPTIAN GREEN STONE HEART SCARAB WITHOUT INSCRIPTIONS
Late Period, XXVIth Dynasty 664-525 BC. A finely detailed green stone heart scarab with added anatomical details. The wings are realised with vertical and parallel lines and are connected to wide shoulders. The head and legs are made in a naturalistic manner.
Sold £4,600
COLLECTION OF EGYPTIAN STONE SCARABS
New Kingdom, Ca. 1550 – 1069 BC. A collection of six stone-carved scarabs, including five monochrome and one speckled example. Each scarab displays the characteristic features: the small head, clypeus, pronotum, and elytra are carefully carved to mimic the insect form. The flat undersides feature distinct engravings, and five scarabs have a central suspension aperture for stringing, while one scarab has an undecorated flat base.
Sold £1,700
HELLENISTIC GOLD RING WITH CARNELIAN INTAGLIO DEPICTING PROMETHEUS
Ca. 300 – 200 BC. A gold ring with a D-section hoop that enlarges at the shoulders to form a bezel, securing a circular carnelian intaglio. The intaglio depicts, in a naturalistic manner, the Greek god Prometheus working with a metal object, wielding fire and a hammer.
Est. £4,500 – £9,000
NEO-ASSYRIAN QUARTZ CYLINDER SEAL
Ca. 7th – 5th century BC. A quartz cylinder seal with a divine hero fighting mythical creatures. Studied by PD Dr. habil. Pieter Gert van der Veen, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz. Size: 39mm x 14mm; Weight: 13g.
Est. £750 – £1,500
Did not get enough here? Then Tap here to see more rare ancient gem-set jewels at Apollo Auctions
