BOULDER, COLO.- From the sands of Egypt to the Andean highlands, Artemis Fine Arts invites collectors and history lovers to an extraordinary event: “Worldly Treasures | Ancient, Ethno, Fine Art.”

Taking place October 17, 2025, at 8:00 AM (GMT-6) in Boulder, Colorado, the auction presents a remarkable collection of legally acquired and authenticated objects from civilizations that shaped the world.

This carefully curated sale bridges Pre-Columbian, Native American, Roman, Greek, Near Eastern, and Asian traditions, complemented by fine and visual art pieces. With in-house shipping and guaranteed authenticity, Artemis ensures a seamless experience for bidders worldwide.

A Rare Glimpse Into the Inca Hinterlands



Rare Inca Hinterlands Stone Plaque Painted with Pictographs. Estimate: $9,000 – $13,500 | Starting Bid: $4,500

Among the auction’s showstoppers is a vividly painted Inca stone plaque from the Chucu region of southern Peru, dated between 1000 and 1500 CE. Crafted in mineral pigments of white, ochre, and red, the 20-inch-square slab depicts stylized human figures and quadrupeds in intricate geometric arrangements reminiscent of Andean textile motifs.

These rare ceremonial plaques once symbolized fertility and cosmology, often buried beneath foundations or placed in sacred springs. Crafted during the twilight of independent regional traditions, they were eventually banned by the expanding Inca Empire—making this example an exceptional survival of pre-imperial ritual art.

Strength and Myth in Bronze



Roman Bronze Appliques – Busts of Hercules. Estimate: $8,500 – $12,750 | Starting Bid: $4,250

A pair of Roman bronze appliques depicting Hercules (Herakles) brings mythic vigor to the sale. Cast in the 2nd century CE, the heroic busts show the demigod crowned with the Nemean lion’s head, a symbol of victory and divine power.

Used as decorative mounts—perhaps on ceremonial chariots—the appliques reflect the Roman fascination with Greek heroism. Their provenance includes the famed Royal Athena Galleries of New York, linking them to one of the most respected sources of classical art in the United States.

The Grace of Pre-Columbian Womanhood

Large Jalisco San Juanito Pottery Semi-Nude Female. Estimate: $5,000 – $7,500 | Starting Bid: $3,500

From West Mexico’s Jalisco region, this commanding 17.5-inch pottery sculpture dates between 300 BCE – 300 CE and embodies both sensuality and strength.

Bare-chested with spiral-painted breasts, scarified shoulders, and striped trousers, the figure stands as a guardian of fertility and lineage, her hand resting protectively on her abdomen.

These San Juanito-type figures were placed in shaft tombs to accompany the deceased, reflecting beliefs in renewal and continuity. With her solemn expression and offering bowl, she radiates both ritual dignity and artistic mastery.

From the Age of Dinosaurs



Fossilized T-Rex Tooth Serrations – Hell Creek Formation. Estimate: $5,000 – $7,500 | Starting Bid: $2,500

Traveling even further back in time, Artemis presents a fossilized T-Rex tooth fragment from the Hell Creek Formation in South Dakota, dating roughly 68–65 million years ago.

Still bearing its serrated edges, this fossil evokes the primal world of the Tyrant Lizard King, whose discovery in Colorado in the 1890s transformed paleontology forever.

Collectors of natural history will appreciate its tactile preservation and scientific significance—a tangible relic from the final days of the Cretaceous.

The Sacred Beast of the Nile



Rare Egyptian Pottery Hippopotamus, ex-Bonhams. Estimate: $3,600 – $5,400 | Starting Bid: $1,800

Graceful yet powerful, this hand-built pottery hippopotamus from Egypt’s Middle Kingdom (ca. 2130 – 1650 BCE) captures the duality of the creature’s symbolism—both feared for its might and revered for its regenerative force.

Standing just over 3 inches tall, the figure once represented rebirth and divine protection, reflecting the Egyptian belief in the hippo’s connection to the fertile mud of the Nile. With provenance tracing to Bonhams London and Royal Athena Galleries, this diminutive sculpture carries an immense historical pedigree.

Artemis Fine Arts: Worldly Treasures | Ancient, Ethno, Fine Art

Boulder, CO, United States
October 17, 2025 | 8:00 AM GMT-6
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