Ancient Resource Taps Into Major Collections for December 7 Fine Ancient Artifacts Auction
MONTROSE, Calif., Dec. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- In 2003, after years of producing and writing ancient history documentaries for the History Channel, Discovery Channel and other respected networks, Gabriel Vandervort took his considerable knowledge and love of antiquities down a different path. He founded Ancient Resource – a small specialty business that evolved into a big business with a staunchly supportive clientele. The final link that made Ancient Resource a globally recognized brand in its space was the establishment of an auction division, which has grown to a position of respect in the marketplace.
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Ancient Resource painstakingly authenticates and guarantees every item it sells, and that includes the 400 superior-quality lots being offered in its December 7 Fine Ancient Artifacts Auction. Methods of bidding include phone, absentee and live online via LiveAuctioneers.
As is the tradition with Ancient Resource auction events, the first 20 to 25 lots contain pieces from various cultures, some at a price point suitable for beginners. They are followed by affinity groupings of premier artifacts from specific cultures.
A marble Janiform bust of the Roman twin gods Hypnos and Thanatos is particularly rare because there are few, if any, other known portrait depictions of Thanatos as an adult. "A Janiform sculpture of the twin brothers together puts this piece in a league of its own," said Vandervort. Presale estimate: $40,000-$50,000.
Mosaics were a common decorative feature throughout the Roman Empire. "Not only are Roman mosaics of the 3rd to 5th century BC beautiful works of art, they also provide an accurate snapshot of what life was like at that time," said Vandervort. The auction includes a Roman mosaic depicting a woman in a toga, reclining on a chaise. One of the finer examples of its type, its estimate is $25,000-$35,000.
Other Roman highlights include a marble torso of Eros, $16,000-$20,000, and a marble ram carved from a human-bone matrix, $16,000-$20,000.
Ancient Egyptian rarities include a cast-bronze statue of Osiris, god of the afterlife. In nuanced colors, the well-sculpted figure retains an early 1900s sales tag from Blanchard's Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Estimate: $10,000-$15,000. Also noteworthy in the Egyptian category is a New Kingdom (circa 1570-1075 BC) limestone relief with hieroglyphic characters. Estimate: $6,000-$7,000.
The Ancient Greek section is led by a stunning marble sfumato of Aphrodite from the island of Rhodes. The 18-inch-tall nude dates to the Late Hellenistic Period (circa 200-100 BC) and displays pleasing facial features and an "almost-Rubenesque" body. Formerly in a New York City private collection, Aphrodite might reach $150,000-$200,000.
An Attic red-figure amphora with painting attributed to the Ethiop painter (active 475-450 BC), depicts a robed man with walking stick, and on the reverse, a warrior with a shield and lance. Estimate: $20,000-$25,000.
A large and impressive Etrusco-Corinthian black-figure olpe dates to the early 6th century BC. Its body is decorated with lions, bulls, ibex, owls and other birds separated by floral elements. Formerly owned by a well-known Italian collector, it could realize $40,000-$50,000.
Ancient Resource's December 7 auction includes many other in-demand antiquities categories. Bidders may feel completely confident about each object, said Vandervort. "I turn down 95 percent of what's offered to me because I'm not convinced about the items' authenticity or provenance. We represent only authentic pieces that are legal to sell and which were obtained from carefully screened consignors."
For more information, contact Gabriel Vandervort. Tel. 805-427-4432 or 818-425-9633; Email. Web: www.AncientResourceAuctions.com. View the auction catalog and sign up to bid absentee or online at www.LiveAuctioneers.com.
Media Contact: Catherine Watson
800-600-2437, ext. 7
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SOURCE Ancient Resource
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