Date: Fri 02-Jul-1999

Publication: Ant

Author: DONNAG

Quick Words:

antiquities-Sotheby's

Full Text:

Antiquities At Sotheby's

NEW YORK CITY -- In a standing room only salesroom, Sotheby's sale of

antiquities from various owners totaled $6,415,577, surpassing the pre-sale

high estimate of $5.8 million.

Nine of the top ten lots sold well above their high estimates, among which the

top lot, an Elamite black chlorite figure of a god or mythological hero,

fetched $800,000, soaring past its pre-sale estimate of $250/350,000.

"The outstanding results of today's sale continues the pattern of strong

totals for antiquities auctions at Sotheby's in recent years," commented

Richard Keresey, director of the firm's antiquities department. "The strongest

bidding in today's sale came from American private collectors and dealers

buying on behalf of private collectors. We were also delighted to see the

participation of several European and American museums, who bid successfully

on several lots in the sale."

Highlights included A Hellenistic bronze figure of Alexander the Great, which

fetched $244,500, over double in pre-sale estimate $80/120,000.

A Greek, bronze figure of a horse sold for $189,500, over triple its pre-sale

estimate of $40/60,000, and an unfinished limestone figure of a man fetched

$145,000, over triple its pre-sale estimate of $30/50,000.