Treasures Of Pre-Roman Italy
SCULPTURE POTTERY METALWORK
Map of Italy c. 400 BC.
ETRUSCAN TERRA COTTA SCULPTURE
9058. SUPERB ETRUSCAN ANTEFIX, c. 6th-5th century BC. The antefix with the facing head of the god Pan with bushy beard and goat horns, the face with original red pigment and the beard, eyebrows and pupils of the eyes with the original black. 5.5 x 6 inches. The face intact and in excellent condition. Cf. Christie's Dec. 1998, #82 for a very similar antefix in inferior condition estimated at $10,000-$15,000. A wonderful early piece of impeccable style.
$24,500.
9066. SUPERB ARCHAIC ETRUSCAN PROTOME, c. 6th century BC. The bust of a goddess done in the finest archaic style with high cheekbones and with a wonderful archaic smile. 3.6 x 6 inches. Chip to base. Very fine example.
8291. FINE ETRUSCAN TERRA COTTA HEAD, c. 3rd century BC. Large head of a young lady wearing earrings with beautiful serene smile and thick locks of hair emerging from under her veil. 4.5 x 5 x 7.5". Rare. Provenance: The Paul Suttman collection. Acquired by Suttman in the 1960's when he lived in Italy as a fellow of the American Academy of Rome. Three time recipient of the prestigious Prix de Rome Paul Suttman (1933-1993) was an internationally known American sculptor who produced many impressionistic figurative works in bronze. Mr. Suttman's work is represented in the Museum of Modern Art, the Morgan Library, the University of Michigan Museum of Art, and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington. More information on Suttman can be found at NY times obituary. Acquired by the current owner from the Suttman estate in the 1990's.
9650. ETRUSCAN TERRA COTTA HEAD OF A YOUNG MAN, c. 4th century BC. The large strongly modeled head with the wild hair and heavy brow usually associated with representations of Alexander the Great. 5.5 x 6 x 7 inches. Chip to left rear edge. An exceptional example of ancient classical art. Very rare. On custom stand. Provenance: The Paul Suttman collection. Acquired by Suttman in the 1960's when he lived in Italy as a fellow of the American Academy of Rome. Three time recipient of the prestigious Prix de Rome Paul Suttman (1933-1993) was an internationally known American sculptor who produced many impressionistic figurative works in bronze. Mr. Suttman's work is represented in the Museum of Modern Art, the Morgan Library, the University of Michigan Museum of Art, and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington. More information on Suttman can be found at NY times obituary. Acquired by the current owner from the Suttman estate in the 1990's.
9718. EXQUISITE ETRUSCAN TERRA COTTA HEAD OF A YOUTH, c. 4th century BC. The very expressive and realistic terra cotta head of a young man with sharp nose and deep set eyes. 4.5 x 5 x 5.5 inches. An exceptional example of the excellence of ancient Etruscan terra cotta portrait art. Rare this nice. On custom stand. Provenance: The Paul Suttman collection. Acquired by Suttman in the 1960's when he lived in Italy as a fellow of the American Academy of Rome. Three time recipient of the prestigious Prix de Rome Paul Suttman (1933-1993) was an internationally known American sculptor who produced many impressionistic figurative works in bronze. Mr. Suttman's work is represented in the Museum of Modern Art, the Morgan Library, the University of Michigan Museum of Art, and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington. More information on Suttman can be found at NY times obituary. Acquired by the current owner from the Suttman estate in the 1990's.
9061. MONUMENTAL ETRUSCAN TERRA COTTA FOOT. Classic Period, ca. 5th-4th century BC. The large life-sized foot with superb molded detail, including very lifelike nails and realistic anklebones, considerable remains of red pigment. 4.5 x 5.6 x 11.5 inches. From the collection of an Italian diplomat formed early the 20th century. The Etruscans produced probably the finest large terra cotta figures of the ancient world. A choice example with excellent detail and in wonderful intact condition with a clean break at the ankle. Extremely rare this nice. A museum quality piece.
8705. AN ETRUSCAN RELIEF FRAGMENT, ca. 5th-4th century BC. The terra cotta fragment with the wing and arm of a Victory holding a wreath. 5.5 x 6 inches. Excellent style. Provenance: The Paul Suttman collection. Acquired by Suttman in the 1960's when he lived in Italy as a fellow of the American Academy of Rome. Three time recipient of the prestigious Prix de Rome Paul Suttman (1933-1993) was an internationally known American sculptor who produced many impressionistic figurative works in bronze. Mr. Suttman's work is represented in the Museum of Modern Art, the Morgan Library, the University of Michigan Museum of Art, and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington. More information on Suttman can be found at NY times obituary. Acquired by the current owner from the Suttman estate in the 1990's.
8706. AN ETRUSCAN RELIEF FRAGMENT, ca. 5th-4th century BC. The terra cotta fragment with a molded palmette and lily stalk. 4.75 x 5 inches. Excellent style. Provenance: The Paul Suttman collection. Acquired by Suttman in the 1960's when he lived in Italy as a fellow of the American Academy of Rome. Three time recipient of the prestigious Prix de Rome Paul Suttman (1933-1993) was an internationally known American sculptor who produced many impressionistic figurative works in bronze. Mr. Suttman's work is represented in the Museum of Modern Art, the Morgan Library, the University of Michigan Museum of Art, and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington. More information on Suttman can be found at NY times obituary. Acquired by the current owner from the Suttman estate in the 1990's.
ETRUSCAN & VILLANOVAN POTTERY
VERY RARE MATCHING SET 12981. LARGE PAIR OF ETRUSCAN KANTHAROI, c. 4th cent. BC. Two thin walled black glazed kantharoi with carinated bottoms and arched strap handles attached to the flared lips. On high pedestal bases. Each 9.5 x 13 inches. Possible near invisible professional repair to one handle, otherwise excellent original intact condition with very light calcium deposits attesting authenticity. Very rare matching pair especially this large and almost never seen on the market. Provenance: Acquired from Harmer Rooke Galleries sale #073, lot 250 12/2/95 with tags (attributed there as Apulian, c. 320 BC). Reverse view.
7472. PARTIAL IMPORTANT LARGE ETRUSCAN HOLMOS AND DINOS, Circa 7th Century B.C. The holmos was one of the utensils required for a banquet. The stand, which is hollow inside, once supported the accompanying dinos, or large cauldron. The holmos' structure consists of three elements fired together as a single piece. It is decorated with openwork rosettes with knobs at their centers, cutout lines between. It sits on a flaring base and is topped by an upper conical portion. The holmos 28 inches high, with rim restored will be 6-8 inches taller, the dinos 12.5 x 16 inches. For similar pieces see "Italy of the Etruscans" by Ines Jucker (The Israel Museum, 1991) p.170 and The Louvre: Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities (1991)p.58. Exceptionally rare, the holmos partially repaired but base and upper rim still incomplete , the dinos in choice condition with one small probe hole. Similar restored examples have sold at Sothebys and Christies in the $75,000 range. Very rare and even rarer to find both components together. A museum quality piece worth considerably more with proper restoration. Provenance: The collection of an American artist living in Rome during the early 20th century.
9054. EXQUISITE EARLY VILLANOVAN LIDDED CHALICE, c. 8th-7th century BC. The elegant vessel on a high foot with knobbed lid, the whole decorated with bands of red, the rim with hatch patterns. 4 x 5.5 inches. A couple of minor rim chips. An early piece of incomparable style. Extremely rare. Provenance: From the collection of an American diplomat stationed in Italy in the early part of the 20th century.
8286. RARE ITALIC POLYCHROME BOWL, ca. 6th-4th century BC. With painted floral patterns. Some glaze abrasion. 6.9". Very rare. Provenance: The Paul Suttman collection. Acquired by Suttman in the 1960's when he lived in Italy as a fellow of the American Academy of Rome. Three time recipient of the prestigious Prix de Rome Paul Suttman (1933-1993) was an internationally known American sculptor who produced many impressionistic figurative works in bronze. Mr. Suttman's work is represented in the Museum of Modern Art, the Morgan Library, the University of Michigan Museum of Art, and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington. More information on Suttman can be found at NY times obituary. Acquired by the current owner from the Suttman estate in the 1990's.
ETRUSCAN, ITALIC & SAMNITE METALWORK
8738. EXCEPTIONAL LARGE ITALIC PLATE FIBULA. Iron Age, c. 9th century BC. This 'serpentine' fibula is an elaboration of the simple Italic violin-bow fibula with a twisting and bending upper bow. One and two piece variations are known with both bent and straight pins. Catches can be either simple holders like a modern safety pin or more complex wire spirals. The most ornate fibulae like this one have engraved discs for catch-plates, knobbed pins and bows with added rings and spirals. Both elements of the fibula, bow and pin were cast, then hammered into shape. A wrapped coil of wire adorns the knobbed pin. The bow was cast as a long rod with concentric discs along the shaft, then twisted. The disc catch-plate is actually an extension of the bow hammered flat and coiled into a closed spiral. It is engraved with cross-hatched triangles and inter-locking crosses. The entire fibula is a tour-de-force of the metalsmith's art and a perfect illustration of the early European preoccupation with geometry. Repaired near knob. Would benefit from a professional cleaning which would reveal more detail. Cf. Randall-MacIver, The Iron Age in Italy, A Study of Those Aspects of the Early Civilizations Which Are Neither Villanovan nor Etruscan (Oxford, 1927) fig. 66B. Johannes Sundwall, Die Alteren Italischen Fibeln (Berlin, 1943) fig. 255. 7 inches. One of a matching pair, the other one of the pair was exhibited in 'Plain Geometry, Armament and Adornment in Pre-Classical Europe' 1997 and published in the exhibition catalog, no. 12 from which the above description has been taken. It was then offered by a New York gallery at $14,000.
8739. A FINE VILLANOVAN 'LEECH-FORM' FIBULA. Early Iron Age, c. 8th century BC. This bronze fibula (sanguisuga) hollow cast by the lost-wax method, is an early example of the type with enclosed body decorated with ridges on the front. 2.25 x 2.5 inches. A matching pair of this rare type fibulae with more ornate ridged design was recently offered by a major New York Gallery priced at $15,000. Beautiful burnished forest green patina. Intact.
8285. LARGE EARLY ITALIC BRONZE FIBULA, c. 8th-7th century BC. The large fibula with square twisted body & pin with large knob. 5.2". Rare and in excellent condition. Ex. Joseph Ternbach Collection. Comes with custom lucite stand.
8681. RARE SAMNITE BELT ARMOR HOOK, c. 450 BC. The bronze clasp with orthopteran form with finely incised insect wings, spirals at shoulder. 5.25 inches. Cf. Master Bronzes, #202, Lyon #113-14. Choice example with more detail under encrustation. See A.G. no. 663 from the Axel Guttmann Collection exhibited in the Guttmann Museum, Berlin, Germany, 1990's. Very rare. Samnite antiquities almost never appear on the market. The Samnites were an early Italic people, one of several besides the Romans who were gradually defeated and absorbed into the Roman empire as it expanded across the Italian pennisula.
7250. RARE VILLANOVAN MULTIPLE 'BOAT' FIBULA, 8th-6th century BC. The fibula with four boats, spirals and a long intact pin. 11.5 cm. Extremely rare type.
