PARIS.- The Archaeology and Oriental Art auction, hosted by Artcurial on 22nd May 2018 will introduce an exceptional and diverse selection of archaeological and art pieces: Mediterranean glassware, bronzes and sculptures from the Antiquity to the 19th century, Persian and Arabic manuscripts and Indian miniatures. Close to 300 lots will be introduced at auction.

The auction will begin with a chapter dedicated to archaeology, Oriental and Classical antiquities, such as a marble Roman woman’s head from the 2nd century (estimate €60,000 – 70,000 / $74,000 – 87,000) or the stele statue of Vizir Paser in black granite (estimate: €15,000 - 18 000 / $18,500 – 22,200).

The second chapter will be devoted to Islamic and Indian art, while the last chapter will introduce several Belgian and French private collections, including the second part of the Germaine Wenziner collection. The first half was dispersed by Artcurial in 2016.

« This auction is a reflection of the diversity of Oriental arts, from the Antiquity to Moghol Indian through a variety of mostly private collections, accumulated over decades. » -- Mathilde Neuve-Eglise, Specialist Archaeology and Oriental Arts, Artcurial

Classical and Middle East Archaeology
The auction will begin with Greek, Roman and Egyptian classical antiquities. An impressive set of sculptures will galvanise Greco-Roman art enthusiasts with two beautiful female heads. One Alexandrian art in marble (estimate € 25,000 – 30,000 / $31,000 – 37,000), one marble Roman art Aphrodite head (estimate: €60,000 – 70,000/ $74,000 – 87,000), as well as a female marble bust from a Hellenic model, also from the 1st century. (estimate €50,000 – 70,000/ $62,000 – 87,000). Also architectural elements such as a large limestone column capital (estimate: €5,000 – 6,000/ $6,200 – 7,500), a limestone eagle relief €12,000 – 15,000/ $15,000 – 18,500. Still Roman art, a 3rd century marble sarcophagi estimate €70,000 – 80,000 /$86,000 – 99 000. The quadrangular sarcophagi decorated with strigil and engraved with Latin letters.

Remarkable bronzes will also be dispersed: A Corinthian armour helmet dated 6th-5th century B.C (estimate: €30,000 – 40,000 / $37,000 – 49,000) and a bronze Egyptian Lactans Isis, probably from Memphis, to the Saïte era estimated €20,000 – 25,000/ $25,000 – 30,000. This remarkable statuette represents the goddess Isis in a seated position, wearing a long close-fitting tunic adorned with an Ousekh necklace. A bronze Syro-Roman statuette representing the goddess Aphrodite dating from the 2nd century is estimated €14,000 – 16,000/ $17,000 - 20,000.

The Oriental antiquities auction will include Luristan bronzes, terra cottas and an Assyrian gypsum alabaster bas-relief estimate €100,000 – 150,000 / $125,000 – 185,000. On a backdrop lined with scales evoking a mountainous landscape, four prisoners with chained hands are escorted by an Assyrian soldier. This fragment presents strong similarities with the bas-reliefs of room XXXVI of the Sennacherib palace, representing the siege of the city of Lachish, exhibited at the British Museum.

Indian and Islamic Arts
The second part of the auction dedicated to Indian and Islamic arts will include a selection of ceramic, bronzes and manuscripts.

For Islamic art, tiles, lacquered objects and a private collection gathering 12th century turquoise ceramics will be dispersed. For example, a silver inlaid bronze chest estimate: €12,000 – 15,000 € / $15,000 - 18,500.

Paper arts will also be represented with a superb page of calligraphy by Mir Ali (estimate: €20,000 – 30,000/ $25,000 – 37,000), and various religious manuscripts including a book of Qajar payers dated 1207 (estimate €2,000 – 2,500/ $2,500 – 3,000), a Persian Coran dated 961 (estimate: €3,000 – 4,000

Special Guest: Pre-Columbian Art
The final chapter of the auction will introduce pre-Columbian artefacts, including the second half of the Belgian Germain Wenziner collection, the first half dispersed by Artcurial in 2016. It includes terra cottas, jewellery and textiles. However, a classical period funerary masque will undoubtedly attract the attention of enthusiasts. Dated 450-650 A.D (estimate €25,000 – 30,000 / $31,000 – 37,000), the mask in blackspeckled olive-green hard stone is highly representative of the Teotihuacan culture, from the Mexico Valley in Mexico.