'Stargazer' Idol Sells For $1.8 Million At Christie's

NEW YORK CITY

:Christie's sale of antiquities was led by the Schuster "Stargazer," which, nearly 5,000 years old, is one of the finest preserved Anatolian marble female idols of Kiliya type, according to Christie's. The sale also showcased examples of Greek, Roman, Egyptian and Near Eastern artistry. Totaling $5,233,460, the sale was 83 percent sold by value and 65 percent sold by lot.

"The sale was a great triumph, with the extremely rare and beautiful Anatolian marble idol, popu-larly called a 'Stargazer,' leading the day, selling for an exceptional $1,808,000," said G. Max Bern-heimer, Christie's international head for antiquities, and Molly Morse Limmer, specialist in the de-partment. "This is a world auction record for a Kiliya idol and more than doubles the previous auction record for a 'Stargazer.'"

It was also by far the highest price for any antiquity sold at auction worldwide this spring season, ac-cording to Christie's.

The Schuster "Stargazer," dating from the Chalcolithic period, circa 3300-2500 BC, is one of only about 15 complete or nearly complete "stargazer" idols to survive, while numerous fragmentary pieces are known. Most of the complete examples have been broken across the neck, as was the auctioned fig-ure, suggesting that the sculptures were ritually "killed" at the time of burial.

"Stargazer" idols have strong appeal to collectors of all types of art, from ancient to contemporary, predominantly due to their similarities with modern art. The sleek and abstract form of Kiliya idols resonates with Twentieth Century masters, such as Brancusi, Modigliani and Moore.

For works of art of the highest quality, the sale drew incredible enthusiasm, primarily from interna-tional private buyers, as well as from institutions and trade clients, according to Mr Bernheimer and Ms Limmer.

"The splendid Roman marble cuirassed statue soared to $576,000, while the beautiful Roman marble Isis achieved $240,000. The Egyptian section was led by a Royal shabti for the Nubian king Senk-amenisken at $138,000, and a limestone relief from the Old Kingdom, which sold for $96,000 immedi-ately after the sale," they said. "An appealing South Arabian alabaster lion fetched more than five times the estimate, selling for $114,000. The sold total for the day was well over $5 million, reaffirming Christie's dominant market share in this field. We look forward with great anticipation to our Decem-ber sales of antiquities and ancient jewelry."

Rounding out the sale's top ten lots were: a Roman mosaic glass ribbed bowl, circa late First Century BC-mid-First Century AD, $192,000; a Roman marble head of a ram, circa late First Century BC-mid-First Century AD, $120,000; a Roman bronze cavalry parade helmet, circa Second Century AD; $102,000; a Greek bronze figure of an African, Hellenistic Period, circa late Second-early First Century BC, $96,000; and a monumental fragmentary Roman marble Venus, circa Second Century AD, $93,600.