2005
EGYPT’S SUPREME COUNCIL OF ANTIQUITIES LAUNCHES A WORLD TOUR OF KING TUT ARTIFACTS.
Twenty-five years after the treasures of King Tutankhamun were last made public, a new world tour of precious artifacts from the ancient Egyptian royal family was announced. “Tut Fever” was further fueled by the release of the first lifelike scientific rendering of the legendary pharaoh. Because of our incredible access to unique and rare antiquities, 1stDibs is able to showcase pieces that are sought out and vetted by true authorities in the field.
Shabtis were mummiform funerary figures that functioned as servants to carry out the tasks required of the deceased in the underworld. Nearly as old as King Tut, this venerable artifact from Egypt’s 18th Dynasty is the sort of museum-worthy piece for which collectors flock to 1stDibs.
Shabtis were mummiform funerary figures that functioned as servants to carry out the tasks required of the deceased in the underworld. Nearly as old as King Tut, this venerable artifact from Egypt’s 18th Dynasty is the sort of museum-worthy piece for which collectors flock to 1stDibs.
From Introspective
The architectural lensman is famed for his depictions of palatial spaces. Here, he shares exclusive photographs of his own labyrinthine apartment and tells us about its eclectic rooms.
21 Years of Living History
A (Beautiful) Thing of the Past
Collectors of antiquities are always in tune with the siren song of ancient civilizations and cultures. For two decades, 1stDibs has combed shops and galleries worldwide in search of artifacts that bring their passion to life. Care to join us? Let’s start with five tantalizing treasures.
Living History Through Artifacts
Greek Owl Tetradrachm Coin,
ca. 430-420 BCE
For numismatists, there is a currency in the coinage of classical civilizations. More than just a physical treasure, these artifacts recall the triumphs — and the tragedies — of ancient empires. This coin was cast in Attica around 430 BCE and depicts on one side a wise Athenian Owl tetradrachm and on the reverse is Athena, the patron goddess of Athens, appearing warlike in an Attic helmet. The coin is set in a custom rounded, suspended style, 22-karat gold bezel with 22-karat gold bail.
Torso of Vishnu,
ca. 10th–11th Century
Carved from pink sandstone, this fragment of a statue of Vishnu the Preserver portrays an exaggerated tribhanga or "thrice-bent" pose. Bare torsoed — except for the garland of jewels over its broad shoulders — the subject wears a dhoti fastened with a jeweled belt just below the navel. Although it's just a tantalizing piece of what was indeed a captivating whole, it can be identified as Vishnu by the mace at his side, called Kaumodaki — commonly seen in the iconography of the Hindu god.
Polychromed Pottery Horse,
Han Dynasty
China's Han Dynasty, lasting from 206BCE to 220CE, saw a massive expansion of art and culture. During this period, clay figurines of people and animals first appeared — paving the way for a tradition of pottery that would influence Europe many centuries later. This equine figurine was masterfully sculpted to accurately depict the horse's long muscular neck, arched mane, stylistically curved snout, flared nostrils and gaping mouth. Blue and red swirled ribbons were drawn onto the body to complement the animal's natural beauty and give it a regal bearing.
Incan Royal Yupana,
1300–1500 CE
Pre-Columbian civilizations, particularly the Incan, had precise measurements systems that aided in everyday commerce. Like an abacus, a yupana was a counting device, a tablet upon which stones, grains, or beans were placed and manipulated to perform calculations. Though there is little understanding of exactly how yupanas were used, it's believed they were helped to account for the crops yielded by villages. This piece is thought to date back to 1300-1500 CE and is one of only a precious few that remain in this size and condition.
Attic Red-Figure Squat Lekythos,
5th Century BCE
While sphinx imagery symbolized protection in Egyptian mythology, its Greek counterpart was always female — and merciless. Sent by the goddess Athena from Ethiopia, she laid siege to the city of Thebes. Anyone who dared enter had to answer her riddle and was gobbled up if incorrect. When Oedipus replied correctly, the sphinx threw herself from a cliff and died, rendering him king. This 5th century BCE vessel, known as a lekythos, features imagery of a menacing sphinx with the head of a woman, the body of a lioness, the wings of an eagle and a serpent-headed tail.
Gandhara Female Deity,
ca. 2nd-3rd Century CE
Gandharan style sculpture is unique in that it's a mix of eastern and western influences — including that of the Greeks, Indians, Scythians and Parthians. Hailing from the 2nd or 3rd Century CE, this statue of a female deity was executed in striking grey schist. She's posed in a downward gaze, she appears to be dancing, and her accentuated hips and exposed mid-riff convey an air of sensuality.
Villanovan Bronze Geometric Disk,
ca. 7th Century BCE
Cypriot Amphora,
ca. 700-600 BCE
Ancient Medusa Gold Ring,
ca. 300 BCE
