BOULDER, COLO.- On January 16, 2026, at 9:00 AM (GMT-6), Artemis Fine Arts will open bidding on Treasures from Around the World, a wide-ranging auction in Boulder, Colorado, bringing together ancient art, historic sculpture, rare fossils, and devotional paintings from across civilizations and millennia.

The sale reflects Artemis Fine Arts’ longstanding focus on legally acquired, well-documented material, with every lot vetted for compliance with U.S. cultural patrimony statutes and accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. From Neolithic China to Spanish Colonial Mexico, the auction offers collectors an unusually diverse cross-section of human history, united by strong provenance and careful presentation.

From prehistoric China: a monumental Neolithic pottery jar


Massive Chinese Neolithic Xindian Pottery Jar - Rare!. Estimate $24,000-$26,000

One of the standout highlights is a massive Chinese Neolithic Xindian pottery jar, dating from approximately 2000–1000 BCE. Originating in the Gansu region, this hand-built vessel exemplifies the Xindian culture’s bold visual language, with sweeping black spirals, zigzags, and linear motifs painted over a reddish-buff slip.

Remarkable for its scale—over 26 inches tall—the jar is far larger than most known examples, making it both visually commanding and culturally significant. Built using coil construction rather than a potter’s wheel, the vessel preserves the subtle asymmetries typical of northwestern Chinese prehistoric ceramics. Despite professional restoration, the jar retains approximately 90% or more original material, and carries an estimate of $24,000–$26,000.

Light and devotion in the medieval Islamic world


Persian Siljuk Bronze Lamp Stand, Khorasan Region. Estimate $13,000-$19,500

From Central Asia comes a finely balanced Persian Seljuk bronze lamp stand, produced in the Khorasan region between the 11th and 13th centuries CE. Resting on three outward-sweeping feet, the tall baluster form rises to a broad tray designed to hold an oil lamp while catching excess oil or wax.

Decorative engraved roundels and a dark, even patina speak to both ritual use and refined craftsmanship. Formerly part of the T.F. Holy Lands collection, assembled since the 1960s, the lamp stand offers collectors a sculptural example of Islamic metalwork with a strong sense of presence. It is estimated at $13,000–$19,500.

Earth’s deep past: a fossil slab transformed into functional art


Huge Table Moroccan Fossil Slab Ammonites / Orthocerata. Estimate $8,000-$12,000

Bridging natural history and modern design is a huge Moroccan fossil slab from the Devonian period, more than 360 million years old. Polished to reveal fourteen ammonites and three Orthocerata, the slab has been adapted with discreet modern legs so it can function as a dramatic table tier beneath glass.

The swirling ammonite shells and elongated Orthoceras forms create a powerful visual rhythm, transforming ancient marine life into a contemporary interior statement. Estimated at $8,000–$12,000, the piece exemplifies the growing appeal of fossils as both scientific specimens and sculptural furnishings.

Sacred imagery across Asia and Europe


Chinese Ming Stone Panel w/ Buddhist Figural Scene. Estimate $9,000-$13,500

Religious and devotional art forms another strong thread in the auction. Highlights include a Chinese Ming Dynasty stone panel carved with a Buddhist narrative scene, likely once part of a temple or tomb register, and a rare Han Dynasty painted pottery horse torso, originally a composite tomb figure symbolizing prestige and imperial power along the Silk Road.


18th C. Spanish Colonial Painting, Jesus Carrying Cross. Estimate $8,000-$12,000.

From the Americas comes an emotionally charged 18th-century Spanish Colonial painting of Christ carrying the Cross, painted in Mexico. Executed with dramatic chiaroscuro and mounted in a richly carved gilt frame, the work reflects Baroque devotional intensity. Scientific testing confirms period-appropriate pigments and gilding of exceptional richness.

Mughal architecture in carved stone


Indian Mughal 18th C. Sandstone Panel, ex-Sotheby's. Estimate $7,000-$10,500

Rounding out the sale is an 18th-century Mughal sandstone architectural panel, formerly sold at Sotheby’s New York. Carved with cusped arches and floral medallions inspired by Persian design, the panel offers collectors a tangible fragment of South Asian architectural history, now presented on a custom stand.