NEW YORK.-Christie’s New York will regale lovers of the Ancient World with an Antiquities extravaganza comprising three superb sales, spread out over two consecutive sale days. On December 8, the seventh edition of the highly successful Ancient Jewelry sale will take place, offering ancient luxury with a modern look. On December 9, the traditional Antiquities sale will be preceded by Ancient Egyptian Art from the Harer Family Trust Collection, a splendid private collection of Egyptian art.

Ancient Jewelry - Status, luxury, beauty, emotion – each piece of jewelry has its story attached. Versatile as they are, these pieces continuously reinvent themselves and what was a nobleman’s golden device to close his cloak will in a next life become some superbly elegant lady’s evening brooch. Browsing through the catalogue of the Ancient Jewelry sale reveals a world of amazing elegance and exquisite craftsmanship, while each of the pieces have their own reflection in the mirror of history. Highlights of the sale include a suite of Achaemenid gold jewelry, circa early 5th century B.C. (lot 41, estimate: $80,000-120,000); a Greek gold and garnet snake armband, Hellenistic Period, circa late 4th – 3rd century B.C. (lot 52, estimate: $25,000-35,000) and a Greek blue chalcedony scaraboid, Classical Period, circa 4th century B.C. (lot 47, estimate: $20,000-30,000) in the category of more expensive pieces. Easy holiday gifts include a pair of Roman gold and pearl earrings, circa 2nd century A.D. (lot 93, estimate: $1,000-1,500); a Roman gold and eye agate finger ring, circa first century A.D. (lot 77, estimate: $1,200-1,800) and a fascinating group of Egyptian scarabs and amulets, Middle Kingdom to Roman Period, 2040 B.C. – 100 A.D. (lot 30, estimate: $2,500-3,500).

Ancient Egyptian Art from the Harer Family Trust Collection - Formed with passion and loving knowledge, the Harer Collection presents masterpieces epitomizing the apex of ancient Egyptian craftsmanship as well as mundane objects that represent everyday life of Egyptian civilization. Both were important and relevant to Dr. Harer as they provide a meaningful insight not only to life under the pharaohs but also to universal aspects of human behavior. The magnificent highlight of the group is a black granite standard-bearing statue of Queen Nefertari, New Kingdom, Dynasty XIX, Reign of Ramesses II, 1290-1224 B.C. (lot 14, estimate on request). Everything about this statue breathes royalty; the exquisite rendering of the Queen’s attire, the beautiful execution of her face and the remarkable feature that this statue seems to be the only three-dimensional work showing a queen as a standard-bearer. Dr. Harer bought Queen Nefertari at Christie’s in 1979, setting a then world auction record at $220,000. When offered on December 9, the statue is expected to fetch in excess of $2,000,000. Other highlights of the Harer Collection include a black basalt block statue of Wahibre, Ptolemaic Period, 304-30 B.C. (lot 37, estimate: $200,000-300,000); a colorful group of 37 glass amuletic inlays, Late Period, Dynasty XXVII-XXX, 525-343 B.C. (lot 24, estimate: $50,000-70,000); and a limestone relief of an official, Late Period, Late Dynasty XXV-Early Dynasty XXVI, circa 670-650 B.C. (lot 21, estimate: $25,000-35,000).

Antiquities - Immediately following the sale of Ancient Egyptian Art from the Harer Family Trust Collection, the traditional various-owners Antiquities sale offers a splendid ensemble of art and artifacts from ancient times. Several private collections are represented in the sale including property from the Collection of Evelyn Annenberg Hall, the Collection of William Suddaby, the Estate of Horst P. Horst and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art sold to benefit the Acquisitions Fund. One of the most impressive objects offered is undoubtedly the Egyptian limestone group statue of Ka-nefer and his family, Old Kingdom, Dynasty V, 2465-2323 B.C. (lot 48, estimate: $1,000,000-1,500,000). From an American Private Collection, the statue represents Ka-nefer seated on a high bench with a hieroglyphic inscription by his feet reading “Overseer of the Craftsmen, Priest of Ptah, Ka-nefer.” His wife and son are represented in much smaller scale at either side of Ka-nefer, both with their arms affectionately embracing Ka-nefer’s legs. More dramatic and a clear forerunner of our sculptural tradition is the Roman over life-sized bronze portrait of the Emperor Antoninus Pius, Antonine Period, circa mid 2nd century A.D. (lot 326, estimate: $1,000,000-1,500,000). The Emperor is depicted with his gaze directed diagonally upward, and his features crisply executed. The mass of seemingly unruly thick curly hair and the slightly open mouth give this portrait an extraordinarily lively presence. The bronze is offered from an American Private Collection.

Further highlights of the splendid ensemble presented in the December 9 Antiquities sale are a Greek terracotta figure of Alexander the Great or a successor, Hellenistic Period, circa late 4th-early 3rd century B.C. (lot 193, estimate: $300,000-500,000) from an American Private Collection; the superbly timeless Cycladic marble head, Late Spedos Variety, circa 2500-2400 B.C. (lot 159, estimate: $50,000-80,000) from the Collection of Evelyn Annenberg Hall; and an attic white-ground Lekythos, Recalling the Quadrate Painter, circa 440 B.C. (lot 234, estimate: $15,00-20,000) from the Collection of William Suddaby.