Greek, Roman, Egyptian & Other Antiquities

The antiquities market comprises artefacts and works of art made by ancient civilisations including statues, coins, jewellery and arms and armour.

Provenance is one of the most important considerations when trading in this sector as there is a long history of looting from archaeological sites.

Bronze sandalled foot

Roman bronze foot from monumental statue makes 10-times estimate at Bonhams auction

30 November 2018

A Roman bronze foot from a monumental statue topped an auction of Antiquities held by Bonhams in London when it sold for a hammer price of £160,000, far in excess of its £10,000-15,000 estimate.

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South London sale surprises from India and Egypt

19 November 2018

Two of the outstanding surprises from the specialist 478-lot Islamic & Indian Art sale at Roseberys (23% buyer’s premium) in West Norwood on October 22 are illustrated here.

Assyrian relief Christie's

Assyrian relief sets second-highest price for ancient art at Christie’s New York despite Iraq’s repatriation call

01 November 2018

An Assyrian relief unearthed from the royal palace at Nimrud in modern-day Iraq has set the second highest ever price for a piece of ancient art at auction after selling at Christie’s New York.

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Antiquities for all in Charles Ede Mayfair Christmas exhibition

29 October 2018

Gallery emphasises ahead of exhibition that items can be bought for as little as £100...

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Pick up a lamp for three figures

15 October 2018

If bidders were to be lured to the ageless aspect of antiquities, one might think that a lamp which first lit the darkness two millennia ago would be hard to resist.

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An array of accessible antiquities

15 October 2018

Headlines about antiquities today usually follow two paths: either highlighting the issue of looting or focusing on the huge sums treasures of the ancient world can command.

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Buyers dig deep for classical ‘Roman’ bust at Sheffield auction

08 October 2018

A classical marble bust took an unexpected £129,000 at Sheffield Auction Gallery on September 21.

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Ancient ewers offered in Vienna

08 October 2018

The Viennese auction house Im Kinsky has acquired a broad selection of works of art for its sale of October 23-24. The oldest objects are three Apulian terracotta ewers (oinochoe) from around 315-310BC.

Coin hoard

Roman gold coin hoard uncovered in Italy

06 October 2018

Workers charged with the demolition of the former Cressoni Theater in Como, Lombardy have unearthed a hoard of 5th century Roman gold coins.

Mosaic

Replica of the largest British Roman mosaic to return home to Gloucestershire

02 October 2018

A replica of the largest Roman mosaic to be found in Britain could return home to Gloucestershire where it was made.

Assyrian relief at Christie's

Assyrian relief expected to raise over $10m at Christie’s New York

17 September 2018

A 3000-year-old Assyrian relief unearthed from the royal palace at Nimrud will be offered at Christie’s New York on October 31. It is expected to exceed $10m.

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Old treasures return from the New World

17 September 2018

From antiquities to Chinese works of art and 20th century European sculpture, a sale in Maine showcases America’s rich supply of European and Asian art.

Relief

Christie's to offer one of the earliest pieces of ancient art in the US

17 September 2018

One of the earliest pieces of ancient art in the US, an ancient Assyrian relief that arrived in Virginia before the American Civil War, is being offered at auction.

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From £1.15 to £65,000: Egyptian sarcophagus mask once in the Pitt Rivers collection comes to TEFAF New York

14 September 2018

An Egyptian sarcophagus mask of a woman dating back nearly 3000 years is on offer at next month’s TEFAF New York.

 Sumerian antiquities

Ancient antiquities seized from dealer returned to Iraq after British Museum research

10 August 2018

Eight Sumerian antiquities seized by the Metropolitan Police from a London dealer in 2003 are to be returned to Iraq after identification by the British Museum.

Persian guard relief

Persian sculpture seized from London dealer in New York to be returned to Iran

25 July 2018

A Persian limestone relief sculpture is to be returned to Iran, a New York court has ruled.

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Roman glass yields some affordable luxuries

16 July 2018

While the big-money lots often steal the headlines, much of the antiquities market remains affordable.

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Ancient battlegrounds and new antiquities challenges

16 July 2018

A hint of defiance was in the air during the latest round of London antiquities sales held at Sotheby’s, Christie’s and Bonhams (25/20/12.5-12.9% buyer’s premium).

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Dealer's show mixing old and new on the surface

16 July 2018

The rise of modern and contemporary collectors buying antiquities has energised dealers and auction houses to juxtapose old with new. But it can be hard to pull off.

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Dealer held after Met ‘looted art’ operation

09 July 2018

A coin and antiquities dealer has been arrested as part of an international investigation into a £35m crime network dealing in looted artefacts.

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