LONDON.- On Sunday morning, December 15, 2024, Apollo Art Auctions will roll out the red carpet for a very special Fine Ancient Art & Jewellery Auction exclusively featuring The Prince Collection, one of the largest royal-provenance collections ever presented by the Central London firm. The 280-lot selection includes breathtaking antiquities of Egyptian, Phoenician, Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Asian origin, with a timeline that spans the 40th century BC to 16th century AD. The live gallery auction, with absentee and Internet live bidding available through Apollo Live or LiveAuctioneers, will begin at 10:30am GMT (5:30am US Eastern Time).

Prior to acquisition for The Prince Collection, many of the premier holdings were the property of esteemed collectors and institutions, including Jean-Paul Barbier Mueller (1930-2016), Robert Hatfield Ellsworth (1929-2014), Edith Bader Koller, W Arnold Meijer, Kurt Flimm, A Obrecht, Jacques H Carre, Jean-Marie Talleux (1930-1995), the Khawam brothers, and the Thalassic Collection.


Rare Egyptian black granite sphynx head of pharaoh of the XXVth Dynasty (747-653 BC), probably Taharqa (690-971 BC). Size: 130mm x 120mm (5.1in x 4.7in). Weight: 2.25kg (4lbs 15oz). Provenance: The Prince Collection, 1990s-2014; ex Jack Josephson private collection. Opening bid: £20,000/$25,485

Perhaps the top prize of the day will be the handsome Egyptian black granite sphynx head of a pharaoh of the XXVth Dynasty (747-653 BC), probably Taharqa (690-971 BC). The pharaoh’s face has defined and elegant facial features, almond-shape eyes, full lips, a prominent nose, and a contemplative expression. His nemes headdress is adorned with a frontal uraeus cobra. Measuring 130mm x 120mm (5.1in x 4.7in) and weighing 2.25kg (4lbs 15oz), this rare item was reviewed by Simone Musso, consultant curator for Egyptian antiquities at Stibbert Museum, Florence, Italy, and member of the Nuri Archaeological Expedition. Prior to acquisition for The Prince Collection, 1990s-2014; it was held in the private collection of Jack Josephson. Opening bid: £20,000/$25,485

The sale opens with two notable Egyptian sandstone reliefs to be offered as consecutive lots. Lot #1 is a panel depicting the Egyptian Pharaoh Akhenaten worshipping the ancient god Aton. This artifact is particularly significant because Akhenaten was the first to introduce monotheism in Ancient Egypt – a controversial move that led to the posthumous destruction of his monuments in an attempt to erase his religious reforms. A fortunate survivor, this relief will open for bidding at £10,000/$12,740. Lot #2, a depiction of two male figures in relief, has appeared at Sotheby’s twice in the past 26 years prior to joining The Prince Collection, and will open at £5,000/$6,370.

A stunning example of Egyptian artistry, a highly decorative alabaster jar from the reign of Pharaoh Ramses II is elaborately painted with papyrus flowers and a scene of the Nile River. It has defied the tests of time over the past 3,200 years to emerge in its fine, original state and is a wonder to behold. Opening bid: £8,000/$10,195


Rare Egyptian steatite head of the goddess Hathor, or a worshipper of Hathor, Late Period, 664-332 BC. Gold-inlaid eyes. Bronze uraeus on headdress. Size: 60mm x 55mm (2.4in x 2.17in); Weight: 150g. Opening bid: £5,000/$6,370


A rare steatite head of the goddess Hathor, or a worshipper of Hathor, dates to Egypt’s Late Period, 664-332 BC. With well-defined facial characteristics and gold-inlaid eyes, the head is adorned with a large, intricately-detailed wig that cascades around the subject’s face and frames her distinctive ears. It is similar to an example seen in Il Museo Palatino, le Collezioni (Electa, 2014, #26). Reviewed by Simone Musso, this captivating relic was part of Eric Strobel’s private collection prior to accession by The Prince Collection. Opening bid: £5,000/$6,370

Also, a very rare and exceptionally well-preserved steatite head of a youthful Pharaoh Amenhotep III (reigned 1388-1353 BC) wearing a short, curly wig is one of few examples of its type known to exist outside of museum collections. This piece comes with distinguished provenance, having been part of the Jacques and Henriette Schumann collection, following its acquisition at Christie’s in 2003. Opening bid: £3,000/$3,820


Rare Egyptian carved black stone ritual mortar, Middle Kingdom, circa 2055-1790 BC. Exterior shows standing figures, probably priests, in high relief, one wearing a long skirt, the other naked and wearing a long wig alternating to vertical lines of hieroglyphic inscription. Size: 240mm x 210mm (9.4in x 8.3in); Weight: 18.29kg (40lbs 5oz) Opening bid: £8,000/$10,195


From Egypt’s Middle Kingdom, circa 2055-1790 BC, comes a carved black stone ritual mortar or relatively cylindric form with high walls and a deep basin could have accommodated food or medicinal ingredients. Its external surface is decorated in high relief with images of two standing figures – probably priests – one wearing a long skirt and the other shown naked and wearing a long wig alternating to vertical lines of hieroglyphic inscription. A similar example may be seen in Change and Innovation in Middle Kingdom Art Proceedings produced for the MeKeTRE Study Day at Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna, on May 3, 2013; and in Middle Kingdom Studies 4, London, 2016, Figures 45-49. Standing 240mm (9.4in) tall, it weighs 18.29kg (40lbs 5oz). Prior to its acquisition for The Prince Collection, it sold at Nagel Auktionen on May 17, 2008. Opening bid: £8,000/$10,195

A superb Egyptian hand-built blue faience shabti of Nesytanebetisheru, Third Intermediate Period, 21st Dynasty, dates to circa 1075-945 BC. The mummiform figure stands in a dignified pose with fused legs and feet, his arms crossed atop his chest, and is enrobed in layers of incredibly lustrous, bright blue glaze. Painted black picks (tools) appear in his hands, and a seed bag is draped from both shoulders down to the middle of his back. The protruding visage exhibits gently-modeled features, including almond-shape eyes outlined heavily with black pigment, a flush nose, a slender mouth with indented corners, and tall ears, all framed within the striated lappets of his tripartite wig. This 150mm (5.9in) figure has a line of provenance that includes the Thalassic collection; a June 4, 1999 auction at Christie’s; and The Prince Collection from the 1990s to 2014. Opening bid: £2,000/$2,550

The sale also features an exquisite array of Romano-Egyptian mosaic beads and inlays that were once part of elaborate vessels, jewellery and votive objects. A set of 18 mosaic glass inlays of various sizes and shapes, primarily polychrome, span the period 30 BC-200 AD. These inlays originated from architectural tiles and, as a group, form a visually compelling display. In a private collection prior to joining The Prince Collection, 1990s-2014; this grouping will open for bidding at £900/$1,145.

An excellent example of ancient glass jewellery, a circa 600-100 BC Phoenician glass-eye bead necklace is entered as Lot 110. The Phoenicians wore “glass eyes” as jewellery or clothing to ward off evil, and the blue bead, in particular, was believed to deflect the “evil eye curse,” making it both a talisman and cultural icon. This attractive necklace of primarily blue beads will open for bidding at £500/$637.

Apollo Art Auctions’ Sunday, December 15, 2024 Fine Ancient Art & Jewellery Auction exclusively featuring The Prince Collection will be a live gallery event with online bidding also available through Apollo’s bidding platform or LiveAuctioneers. Start time: 10:30am GMT/5:30am US Eastern Time. Goods may be previewed at the gallery by appointment only, now through December 13, from 10am-5pm daily. Address: 63-64 Margaret Street, London W1W 8SW. Apollo accepts payments in GBP, USD and EUR; and ships worldwide. No import charges are assessed on most antiquities sent to the United States. All packing is handled in-house by white-gloved specialists who are skilled at preparing precious goods for shipment. Questions: Please call +44 7424 994167 or email enquiries@apolloauctions.com. Visit Apollo Art Auctions online at www.apolloauctions.com