Collectibles 'from cultures across three millennia' auction in London

A 3rd century AD Roman bronze statuette of the goddess Aphrodite is expected to attract bids up to £80,000 in TimeLine Auctions sale of Ancient Coins, Antiquities and Geological Specimens.

The sale begins at 9.30am on September 9 at Bloomsbury, London.


A youthful head of Hercules from the
1st-2nd century (top); and a 2nd
century BC Greek gold appliqué

The solid cast standing figure depicts Aphrodite holding a mirror and a pomegranate. An "attractive pale green patination adds to her charm and desirability" say the lot notes.

Competing with the goddess for attention is a smiling and youthful marble head of Hercules dating from the 1st-2nd century AD, which is expected to reach £6,000.

Equally striking is a hollow-cast bronze bust depicting back-to-back male and female faces in the manner of the Roman god Janus. The male wears a laurel wreath; the female has a wreath of vine leaves. Bids of up to £5,000 are anticipated.

Another eye-catching lot that will come under the hammer at this auction is a 4 feet curved tusk of a Juvenile Woolly Mammoth that dates from circa 30,000 BC.


Other highlights (top to bottom) include a 3rd century
AD Roman bronze statuette of the goddess Aphrodite;
a Meteorite slice discovered in 1967; a hollow-cast
bronze bust; and a Juvenile Woolly Mammoth tusk
from circa 30,000 BC

According to the auction house, "Its long sojourn beneath the Siberian tundra has imparted a pleasing orange-brown patina." The piece is expected to draw bids up to £4,000.

An even more ancient lot - a polished slice cut from the Seymchan Meteorite discovered in 1967 in the Magadan district of the USSR - is hoped to reach £3,000 before the hammer falls.

Elsewhere, gold lovers many find themselves tempted to bid on a 2nd century BC Greek gold appliqué depicting Nike presenting a Corinthian helmet to the god Pan. 

In very fine condition, this miniature work of art, which measures just 1½ inches by 1½ inches, comes from an important American collection and is expected to fetch £3,000.

Many other gold antiquities including rings, brooches and coins will feature in the auction - including more than 800 lots spanning cultures across three millennia.  

Live online bidding will be available. Watch this space for more news on the sale.

 

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