Goldberg Coins and Collectibles

Sale 22

Manuscript and Collectibles Auction

Antiquities

Lot	Photo	Description	Realized
Lot 464		A Flashy Twin-Handled Unguentarium. Roman, c. 3rd to 4th century AD. Height: 4". Again blown from thick glass, this rugged little piece with flaring mouth and narrow piriform body, atop sturdy folded foot. The handles neatly made of the same color glass. The body with mold blown ribbing, spirally twisted as added ornament. Intact and perfect, with translucent to opaque silvery iridescence under cleanable black crust. A symmetrical and pleasing example of its type. Estimated Value $550 - 750. View details	Realized $460
Lot 465		Another Twin-Handled Unguentarium with Trailed Ornament. Roman, c. 3rd to 4th century AD. Height: 5-3/4". Another example similar to previous lot, but larger and with trailed glass decoration rather than mold blown. Also of light green glass, this with larger handles of the same color, while the thin trailings are in dark green. Some minor repair at neck beneath handles, and as usual, some of the thin trailings are absent, but overall in excellent condition, with vivid, brilliant iridescence under the areas of blackish patina. Estimated Value $450 - 650. View details	Realized $357
Lot 466		Glass-Wrapped Footed Balsamarium. Roman, c. 3rd to 4th century AD. Height: 4-1/2". A richly textured version of the usual twin-handled tubular vessel with folded integral foot. In a thick green glass, the piece is solid and heavy, with thickly rimmed mouth, and the whole body encircled with spirally trailed glass of the same color. Intact and pristine, with remains of easily cleanable dirt. Choice and scarce. Cf. Ede, Collecting Antiquities, fig. 308-c, for a closely similar example. Estimated Value $600 - 800. View details	Unsold
Lot 467		Colorful Juglet. Roman, c. 3rd to 4th century AD. Height: 4-5/8". Recomposed from two different pieces, this juglet's upper half is a faintly green-tinged yellow glass. The narrow neck, wide funnel mouth, handle and ornamental rings are in a trailed dark aqua color. The flattened ovoid body is also yellow glass but of somewhat lighter color. The lower body appears in a fine and colorful thick silver-gray-green iridescence, with vivid surrounds of magenta, green and lime color. Similar iridescence has been added as restoration to the juncture of the two bottles. Although a pastiche, the shape is reasonably accurate, and the juglet has undoubted eye appeal. Estimated Value $200 - 300. View details	Realized $184
Lot 468		Single-Handled Juglet in Light Green Glass. Roman, c. 3rd to 4th century AD. Height: 5-7/8". Blown with a globular body and indented base, a cylindrical neck with shallow everted/funnel mouth, the bottle has been folded at the shoulders to created a thick encircling ring. At backside, a single trailed and folded handle. Intact, with a modest age crack at base of handle -- but handle intact, solid and stable. Iridescence ranges from a somewhat matte iridescence/patina, tending to the mauves, lavenders and soft greens at the lower body, to a more "etched" and vibrant silver and multi-colored at the neck and mouth. Estimated Value $850 - 1,000. View details	Unsold
Lot 469		Robust Single-Handled Juglet with Silvery Iridescence. Roman, c. 3rd to 4th century AD. Height: 4-1/2". Blown from fairly thick green glass, with an almost bell-shaped body (slightly angled vertical walls and strongly rounded shoulders) and indented base, a tapering cylindrical neck, and a shallow funnel mouth with folded collar beneath rim. At the back, a single trailed, folded, and rimmed handle, plus a decorative ring midway along the neck. Intact, with a well hidden repair to the base of the neck. Much of bottle covered with thick silver-creme iridescence/patina, displaying pearl-like soft mauves, lavenders and greens. Where patina absent, a sometimes vivid violet, copper, and rose evident. A solidly made little bottle. Much clotted dirt remains within the juglet. Estimated Value $500 - 600. View details	Unsold
Lot 470		Single-Handled Juglet in Light Green Glass. Roman, c. 3rd to 4th century AD. Height: 5-7/8". Blown with a cylindrical body, rounded shoulders, and indented base, plus a cylindrical neck with broad funnel mouth. At backside, a single trailed and combed wide handle, plus a decorative ring encircling the mouth lower down. An area of expert repair and restoration at the upper neck, otherwise juglet intact and sound. Iridescence is a densely speckled, somewhat matte creme color, with occasional brilliant colors peeking out along the edges. The intense multi-colored iridescence at the neck and mouth is especially noteworthy -- with vivid metallic limes and coppers. Cf. Newark, fig. 132. Estimated Value $750 - 950. View details	Realized $719
Lot 471		Large Carafe in Aqua. Roman Syria, 3rd to 4th century AD. Height: 9-1/4". This heavy and substantial piece is formed in aqua glass. The bottle, with a funnel mouth that is faintly cupped, sits atop a conical body with rounded shoulders and base, and indented bottom. A heavy trailed ring of glass appears at the throat, to which are attached two combed and folded handles. A little loss to the top of one handle. Otherwise the bottle is very well preserved. With transparent to intense mottled purple-green and gold iridescence. Estimated Value $1,250 - 1,650. View details	Realized $805
Lot 472		Large Carafe. Roman, c. 3rd to 5th century AD. Height: 11-1/2". Blown in thick, faintly olive-tinged green glass, this robust bottle has a short funnel mouth and flaring neck set atop a flattened, ovoid body. Intact and perfect without any of the usual cracks seen on these larger pieces. With patches of opaque, but mostly transparent slivery-blue, and green to purple iridescence, some of which is quite vivid and mostly on one side. Monumental! It is difficult to find ancient glass much larger than this. Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,500. View details	Realized $891
Lot 473		A Stunning, Ornately Handled Balsamarium. Roman, 3rd - 5th century AD. Height: 6-5/8". Very robust, this vessel has been fashioned from a tube of thick green glass with rolled rims at either end, and then folded over at the center and heat joined. Folded trailings of thick, slightly darker glass project outwards at four sides, finishing with a strap-like bail handle at the top. Complete and perfect, with thick, opaque silvery iridescence, having lovely hints of blues, violets, greens, and the occasional indigo. Exceptional, and rare in this state of preservation. Estimated Value $1,500 - 2,250. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $1,840
Lot 474		A Monumental Double-Balsamarium. Roman Judaea, c. 3rd to 5th century AD. Height: 9". Robustly made from a thick, rimmed tube folded over and heat joined, with large looping tiers of handles added. Aside from the usual discreet repairs to the handle, piece finely preserved. Looking at the dripping sculpture of the handles, one can easily appreciate the fact that glass occupies a place between a solid and a liquid. Holding and regarding this piece, one is brought to mind of some utilitarian object made of icicles! Rare this nice, and worth serious bidding consideration. Estimated Value $2,000 - 2,500. View details	Realized $1,610
Lot 475		A Colorful Bale-Handled Balsamarium. Roman Judaea, c. 3rd to 5th century AD. Height: 6-1/2". A smaller, but no less solidly made example of the previous balsamarium, this in light green glass for the body and handle, while the decorative trailing threads around the body are in purplish aubergine-colored glass. Three discreet repairs to the bale, plus a small section of the side handle is missing, aside from these the preservation is choice. Over much of the piece is a variegated iridescence, ranging from matte and transparent, to opaque silvery, with areas flashing vivid violets and cobalts, along with subtle limes. An eye catching object. Estimated Value $950 - 1,250. View details	Realized $1,323
Lot 476		A Rare Twin-Handled Balsamarium in Aubergine. Roman Judaea, c. 3rd to 5th century AD. Height: 6". Another heavy-bodied tube folded like previous lot, but this in the much rarer for this series violet-colored glass. The tubes forming the body of unequal width. Glass trailings form the two small handles, along with encircling bands along the upper half of the body. Discreet repair to one handle, otherwise item is well preserved with blackish peelable skin, which when removed reveals wonderfully vivid iridescence underneath. The deep red-violet of the glass serves as an ideal backdrop for the metallic reds, coppers, greens, and cobalts -- ranging from bright and flashy, to the subtle. Another piece worthy of serious consideration. Estimated Value $950 - 1,250. View details	Realized $546
Lot 477		A Colorful Trailed glass Amphoriskos. Roman Syria, c. 4th - 5th century AD. Height: 5". The bottle is blown from a light green glass, and has a slightly tapered cylindrical neck, ovate body, and folded splayed foot. In a dark aqua glass, decorative trailings zigzag and encircle the neck, and form the folded twin handles. Aside from a little cleanable dirt within, the bottle intact and pristine. Scarce and decorative, this bottle would make a flashy addition to any glass collection. Estimated Value $950 - 1,250. View details and enlarged photo	Realized $1,035
Lot 478		Fine Jar with Trailed Threading. Roman Syria, c. 4th to 5th century AD. Height 3-1/8". A robust jar of light green, almost leaf green glass, with globular body, having a deeply indented base, and the wide funnel mouth folded downwards to create an encircling collar. Added trailing threads are a dark green-aqua, along with a heavier pattern of zigzags beneath. Jar perfect and pristine, with cleanable dirt (if the new owner is so inclined). An excellent, decorative example of its class. Estimated Value $800 - 950. View details	Realized $604
Lot 479		Simple but Elegant Bottle. Roman Syria, c. 4th to 5th century AD. Height: 6". The vessel of simple form, with tapering funnel neck on ovate body with indented base, blown in pale green glass. Enlivening the bottle are two trailed bands of deep bright green. Bottle intact and perfect, with residue of thin earthen patina. A very fine bottle of the late Empire. Estimated Value $475 - 675. View details	Realized $460
Lot 480		A Remarkable Bottle. Roman Syria, c. 4th to 5th century AD. Height: 5". The vessel also of simple form, with tapering funnel neck on high ovate body with indented base, blown in pale aqua-green glass. At the bottle's shoulder, an inward fold was created and then sealed and smoothed, creating two reflective, jewel-like bands of aqua. Even more unusual is the use of opaque red for the trailed ornament at the mouth and neck. A small, narrow section of the rim broken and re-attached, otherwise bottle pristine and perfect. Although simple in appearance, this object would surely have been a luxury item in its time. Rare and choice! Estimated Value $750 - 950. View details	Realized $920
Lot 481		Large Late Empire Flask. Roman, c. 4th to 5th century AD. Cf. Newark, no. 438. Height: 7". This bottle is heavy and substantial in light green glass. The vessel is mold blown with a long, rimless funnel mouth on its sharply ovate body. The walls show faint vertical ribbing. Intact and perfect, with thin to transparent silvery to speckled green, purple, copper, blue iridescence, mostly on one side. Stylish and impressive, this flask would well grace anyone's collection. Estimated Value $500 - 750. View details	Realized $633
Lot 482		A Most Unusual Two-Tiered Bottle. Roman Syria, c. 4th to 5th century AD. Height: 3-3/4". An unusual variant on the bottles with the folded throat technique of the period. Blown from thick green glass, this robust piece with ovate body with indented base. The funnel mouth only partially folded, creating the appearance of a second ovate vessel attached at the top. At regular interval, three handles are attached to the rim, throat, and body. One handle is fragmentary, and it is apparent that it was never properly sealed to the body in antiquity, since there remains no visible evidence if it having been there. Aside from this, the bottle is intact and perfect, and is coated with splendid iridescence. Where opaque the color runs to silvery greens and lavender; where translucent, variegated greens predominate. Most unusual and rare. With its kind of gourd-like appearance, and the lustrous iridescence, this bottle almost looks like "proto-Louis Comfort Tiffany." Estimated Value $1,000 - 1,500. View details	Realized $719
Lot 483		Remarkable "Baby Feeder" or Pitcher. Eastern Mediterranean, c. 4th to 6th century AD. Height: 5-3/4". Blown from thick deep leaf green-colored glass, the vessel with broad funnel mouth on narrow neck, atop an flattened ovate body. A single trailed handle at the back attaches in two places, and the short spout with "fire polished" (i.e. smooth and rounded) edges to its rim. Additional ornament of thin trailed glass ribbon wraps about the exterior of the mouth. Intact and pristine, with only slight dirt residues. This a splendid and exotic example of the glassmaker's art. Estimated Value $950 - 1,250. View details	Realized $805
Lot 484		Interesting Dropper Cup, Finely Iridescent. Islamic, probably Syria, c. 7th to 10th century AD. Height: 1-3/4". Blown from thick, leaf green glass, this small utensil is beaker-like with a rounded base and elongated spout on one side. The spout's tip is slightly chipped. Otherwise the glass is well preserved with colorful silver-violet to blue, green, gold and red iridescence. A choice and scarce little object. Some have termed these "baby feeders," but likely these served a function in the distillation of medicinal or chemistry concoctions in the then technologically-advanced world of Islam. Estimated Value $300 - 400. View details	Realized $173
Lot 485		Islamic "Pitcher." Persia or Egypt, c. 8th to 10th century AD. Height: 4-5/8". Pastiche vessel consisting of the upper half a colorful pitcher in blue. The bottom has been "restored" with the base of a green vessel that features swirls of vivid, metallic iridescence in violets, blues, coppers, and bronze. A different, eye catching decorator piece. Estimated Value $300 - 400. Ex Ainley Collection; Malter XXXVIII, lot 84. View details	Realized $173
Lot 486		"Pitcher" with Vivid Iridescence. Persia, c. 8th to 12th century AD. Height: 4-1/4". This pastiche vessel is composed of pieces from from five or six vessels. Crafted in very thick glass the piece ranges in color from aqua to azure, to deep emerald green. With areas of exceptionally fine and intense iridescence. A colorful decorator piece. Estimated Value $300 - 400. Ex Ainley Collection; Malter XXXVIII, lot 85. View details	Realized $276
Lot 487		Islamic "Vase." Persia, c. 11th to 12 century AD. Height: 3-7/8". Pastiche. The neck and shoulders of an ornate bottle in heavy green glass has been married to the faceted base of a vessel in deep blue. The upper part has a marvelous, jewel-like iridescence in violets, blues, coppers, and reds. A nifty little decorator piece, and a wistful rembrance of what it could have been. Estimated Value $250 - 350. Ex Ainley Collection; Malter XXXVIII, lot 89. View details	Realized $207
Lot 488		Grooved Hammer/Axe Head in Serpentinite. Amerind(?), c. 500 AD. This hefty tool roughly conical-shaped in profile, and oval in section. At lower third of length, a deep groove for hafting encircles the stone for about three-quarters of its perimeter. Tool overall in fine condition, with usual occasional blemish due to normal use. A spot of calcerous patina on one side; the stone overall a variegated dark gray-green. Length: 5-1/4". Estimated Value $300 - 400. View details and enlarged photo	Unsold

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