Bronze sculpture of Egyptian god Osiris headlining Aug. 3 auction

BOULDER, Colo. – A selection of fascinating antiquities and cultural art will come to auction August 3. Artemis Gallery in Boulder, Colorado is presenting the 357-lot sale. Among the expected highlights is a bronze sculpture of an Egyptian god

The sale also features an array of ancient Greek, Roman, and Asian treasures. Added to the excitement is tribal art from Viking, Pre-Columbian and Native American cultures. A specialty category of the lineup includes geological and zoological fossils. A second specialty interest focuses on William Spratling silver and gold designs. This category includes two exquisite pieces to incorporate or find inspiration in Pre-Columbian jewelry from Spratling's collection. Bidders are invited to participate by phone, absentee or live online.

The Ancient Egyptian section offers collectors a wide variety of art forms, time periods and price points. The sale opens with a bronze figure of the mummiform god Osiris, cast circa 1070-332 BCE. Possibly a votive figure originally held in a temple or displayed as an object of worship in the home of a wealthy family, it stands 11.55 inches high (inclusive of a custom wood stand) and has an illustrious line of provenance. Its provenance includes the 1957 Parke-Bernet auction of the Mrs. Charles E. Crawley collection. Later, it appears in the renowned Albert J. Zaloom collection. Artemis Gallery’s auction estimate is $60,000-$90,000.

Other Egyptian highlights include Lot 12, a painted-wood sarcophagus mask, circa 1069-732 BCE, $9,000-$14,000; Lot 13, a Late Dynastic Period (circa 664-525 BCE) near-white faience ushabti, $1,500-$2,500; and a Late Period to Ptolemaic (712 to 30 BCE) heavy cast-bronze figure of a horned fish, $3,000-$4,500.

The August 3 auction boasts one of the most exciting selections of Greek antiquities to appear in the marketplace for quite some time. Lot 33, a skillfully carved marble head of a youthful female, perhaps a Maenad, has extremely lifelike, delicate facial features. Dating to the 4th-3rd century BCE, the piece's roots include the Turkish Mavrogodato family’s collection (1870-1948). It appears in the 2008 book Art of the Ancient World by J. Eisenberg. Estimate: $25,000-$35,000.

Pottery features prominently in the Greek portion of the sale. Standout examples include Lot 21, a profusely decorated circa 7th-5th century BCE Attic/Euboean black-figure amphora. The piece enters the sale with an estimate of $8,000 to $12,000. Other top examples include an Attic black-figure kylix (drinking cup). It boasts square handles and painted scenes characteristic of the Lancut Group. It presents with an estimate of $2,500 to $3,500. The Greek Apulian kantharos with a Lady of Fashion portrait will be in the auction spotlight. It is similar to an example in the Walters Art Museum, with an estimate of $1,800 to $2,500. An Etruscan (Italy, circa 6th-5th century BCE) antefix, or roof ornament, will come before bidders. It is in the form of a woman’s head with painting and an estimate of $10,000 to $20,000.

Next in the spotlight is Ancient Rome, with an incredible conversation piece dating from the Imperial Period (circa 1st-3rd century CE) entered as Lot 41A. It is a dramatic cast-bronze hand showing active details of grasping an iron dagger. “The image of a Roman hand clutching a dagger immediately reminds us today of the assassination of Caesar, but daggers were famous as assassination weapons long before the Ides of March,” Bob Dodge explained. The lot enters the sale with a $5,000 to $6,500 estimate.

The recent premiere of the seventh season of HBO’s Game of Thrones series is sparking interest in

Viking jewelry. The silver Thor’s Hammer pendant is a classic of its genre, and Artemis will offer one in its upcoming sale. The pendant bears an estimate of $1,500-$2,000. The top prize of Viking objects is a circa-10th century CE Viking/Norse Christian cross and chain. The set weighs a total of 201.3 grams. It's presale estimate is $8,000 to $12,000.

Asian embellished jewelry will com forth as a rare 19th-century Tibetan bronze and crystal pendant of Mahakala. The silver, turquoise and dark red coral piece is estimated at $1,200-$1,500. From the same general period, Lot 60, a Tibetan silver, moonstone and gemstone pitcher with elegant curves and silverwork, has pre-sale expectations of $4,000-$6,000. Other stand-out items in the Asian category include Lot 67, a Chinese Song Dynasty (960-1270 CE) stone Lohan head, $3,500-$4,500; and Lot 65, an ancient Neolithic (circa 3800-2700 BCE) jade bi disc from northeast China, Hongshan culture, $1,200-$1,500.

An array of remarkable fossils will cross the auction block. Lot 71A, a huge Campo Del Cielo meteorite found in Argentina and estimated to be 4.5 billion years old. Weighing 11,158 grams, it is among the heaviest meteorites of record. Its auction estimate is $4,500-$5,500. Lot 71B, a fossilized European cave-bear hand from the Pleistocene epoch (1.2 million to 24,000 years ago) displays an almost human-like form, with long, articulated claws. Estimate: $1,200-$1,500. Other curiosities include Lot 101C, a 17th-century egg from the extinct elephant bird of Madagascar, $3,000-$4,500; and Lot 102A, a huge, museum-quality crinoid (sea lily) fossil slab. This superb specimen found in Morocco and dating to the Devonian Period (circa 400 million years ago) measures 62 inches wide by 42 inches high. Estimate: $15,000-$20,000.

Pre-Columbian rarities abound in the Aug. 3 sale, starting with Lot 80, an exceptional Mayan limestone ball court marker, circa 400-500 CE. This particular marker bears a depiction of a kneeling captive, bound at the wrist and wearing an emblematic device on his back. Encircling him are carvings of 16 glyphs. Appearing on a custom stand, it is one of the auction’s stellar entries and is expected to command $60,000 to $80,000. Lot 81, an important Pucara (south highlands of Peru) carved black stone sculpture of a jaguar, comes with extensive provenance and an analysis report from Fine Art Services, Miami. Estimate: $30,000-$45,000.

Lot 97A, a stunning 19th-century Navajo sterling silver, and turquoise concho belt, contains a total of 348 turquoise cabochons in a myriad of shades ranging from sky blue to aqua to spring green. Outstanding in every way, it is estimated at $12,000-$15,000.

The name “Spratling” is synonymous with perfection in Mexican silver design. Pieces created by William Spratling, the American expat silversmith who revitalized Taxco, Mexico’s silver industry in the early to mid-19th century, are revered the world over. Artemis Gallery is proud to offer three Spratling artworks in its August 3 auction. Lot 115A, a stylish circa 1940-46 hand-hammered sterling silver water pitcher is entered with a $12,000-$15,000 estimate. Two other Spratling designs incorporate, or were inspired by, Pre-Columbian art that came directly from the Spratling vault: Lot 94B, a sterling silver dinner bell with a pair of Olmec/early Mayan-inspired carved-silver moths, $2,500-$3,500; and Lot 95, a pair of spectacular 18K gold earrings with carved and string-cut Olmec jade moths, $15,000-$20,000.

There are several ways in which to bid in Artemis Gallery’s Aug. 3, 2017 auction, including absentee, by phone (please reserve line in advance) or live via the Internet.

The sale will be conducted simultaneously on two bidding platforms: LiveAuctioneers.com, and Invaluable.com. All items are guaranteed to be authentic, as described in the auction catalog, and legal to purchase and/or resell. An Artemis Gallery COA will accompany each auction lot.

For additional information about any item in the auction, call Teresa Dodge at 720-890-7700 or email teresa@artemisgallery.com. Online: www.artemisgallery.com.