Download PDF

We Guarantee:
Authenticity
Friendly Service
Prompt Shipping
Highest Integrity
100% Satisfaction

Contact:
fragments@aol.com

Fragments of Time Holiday Catalogue XXV

Fragments of Time is pleased to announce the publication of Art from the Ancient World XXV, a full-color and authoritatively researched catalogue highlighting nearly 60 provenanced ancient objects from our inventory.

The catalogue is the 25^th since it was founded in 1994 by John Ambrose.

The cover of this milestone catalogue features an important pair of Bronze Roman zebu (humped bulls) from Anatolia dating to the 1^st century AD. Both bulls are inscribed on the flank with dedications in Greek. One of the bulls is reattached to an oval bronze pedestal, original to the piece, which features an additional Greek inscription in three lines of text. The bulls were previously the property of W.H. Amistead, a private collector from Corning New York, who acquired them in 1966 from well-known NYC dealer J.J. Klejman.

“The bulls have a wonderful provincial style and the invocations to Men in the inscriptions suggest that the pair was likely found at a temple site to the Phrygian god Men who was known as a healer and a giver of oracles,” said Ambrose. “The zebu pair not only reflects fine workmanship but the Greek inscriptions add an important context.”

In addition to the bronze bulls, the catalogue contains a wide selection of Roman, Greek, Etruscan and Egyptian objects selected from the Fragments of Time inventory. Items are represented in a variety of price ranges starting at less than $100.

Egyptian Works

The catalogue includes a number of Egyptian objects including a New Kingdom limestone shabti of Mesu who held the rank of stone mason at the temple of Seti I. The title of “stone mason” attached to a specific temple is known but instances of its use are rare. The shabti also has considerable remains of gold gilding.

Personal stamp seals are also highly uncommon in Egyptian art. A limestone example featured in the catalogue, inscribed with the name Wahibre from the 26^th Dynasty, is noteworthy. The catalogue contains a number of additional shabtis, amulets and scarabs, many from important 20^th century collections. Highlighting this section is an amethyst scarab group acquired from Dr. William Ward in the 1960s.

Greco-Roman Objects

“We have a tremendously varied selection of Greco-Roman terracotta, pottery, marble and bronzes,” said Ambrose. “A rare bull-headed terracotta lamp, a satyr mask lamp-house, an archaic Greek reclining banqueter playing a lyre, a wonderful black and white pig askos, and a creamy-golden Roman marble altar are especially noteworthy.”

Provenance, as always, plays an important part in the objects featured in the Fragments of Time catalogue. A pale green oval Roman dish, circa 3-4^th Century AD, formerly in the Walkenberg Collection had been exhibited at the Brooks Memorial Art Gallery, Memphis, Tennessee in 1964/65. A pristine single-handled Cypriot juglet with bold color comes with a pedigree provenance having been previously in the Cesnola Collection and then purchased by the NY Metropolitan Museum prior to being deaccessioned in 1925.

“Provenance is an important consideration in purchasing antiquities today,” said Ambrose. “My goal with Fragments of Time is to lead the way in nurturing a new sensitivity toward responsible collecting and the importance of provenance.”

Fragments of Time quarterly catalogues are consistently rated among the best in the antiquities field and are used by collectors, scholars and museums as reference works. A complimentary catalogue is available upon request for new clients by filling out our request form online or by calling (508) 359-0090. An annual subscription is just $12 in the continental US or complimentary upon first purchase or either books or antiquities.

Request free complimentary copy of Catalogue 25.