Menu
EUR
CAD
AUD
GBP
MXN
HKD
CNY
MYR
SEK
SGD
CHF
THBGreek Archaic Bronze Applique Theban Sphinx
Lot 24
About Seller
Artemis Gallery
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$3,000 - $4,500
Absentee vs Live bid
Two ways to bid:
- Leave a max absentee bid and the platform will bid on your behalf up to your maximum bid during the live auction.
- Bid live during the auction and your bids will be submitted real-time to the auctioneer.
Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $25 |
| $300 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
About Auction
Live
By Artemis Gallery
Mar 9, 2023
Set Reminder
2023-03-09 10:00:00
2023-03-09 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Exceptional Ancient, Ethnographic, & Fine Art
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-ancient-ethnographic-fine-art-12354
Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (413)
- Lot Description
**First Time At Auction**
Greece, Archaic period, ca. late 6th to early 5th century BCE. An impressive bronze applique of a recumbent sphinx - a mythological creature with the body of a lion, the head of a woman, and the plumed wings of an eagle. Lying atop an Ionic capital, the fantastical creature turns her head right to address the viewer with her forelegs extended before her and her curved wing rising from her back. A polos surmounts her coiled coiffure, her Classically styled face presenting a square form with almond-shaped eyes and a straight mouth. Note the well-preserved, incised details such as the plumage of her wings, the musculature of her hind legs, and the zigzag motif along the capital. Truly a wonderful example of Archaic iconography! Size: 2.3" W x 1.8" H (5.8 cm x 4.6 cm)
The legendary sphinx was known from the Bronze Age onward in various forms throughout the eastern Mediterranean region. Although the Great Sphinx of Giza is certainly the most famous, sphinxes have a large place in Greek mythology as well due to the intermixing of Egyptian and Greek culture via trade routes across the Mediterranean. The Greek version of the sphinx, unlike the male Egyptian one, traditionally possesses the head of a human female, the body of a lion, and the wings of an eagle. Famously, the sphinx - sent by Hera to punish the city of Thebes for displeasing the goddess - stood outside Thebes, taking vengeance upon anyone who failed to answer its riddle. Oedipus would eventually solve the riddle: what animal walks on four legs, then two, then three? The answer of course was man, who crawls as an infant, grows to walk upright, and in his advanced years, leans upon a walking stick.
Provenance: ex-Royal Athena Galleries, New York City, New York, USA; ex-Gorny & Mosch, Munich, Germany, December 2015; ex-D.D. collection, London, England, acquired between 1975 and 1980
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#177268Corrosion to face, tip of wing, and base, as well as expected nicks and minor chipping in areas. Otherwise, intact and excellent with nice remaining detail. Rich patina throughout.Condition
- Shipping Info
-
All shipping is handled in-house for your convenience. Your invoice from Artemis Gallery will include shipping calculation instructions. If in doubt, please inquire BEFORE bidding for estimated shipping costs for individual items.
-
- Buyer's Premium
