Summer Auction “Ancient Art” at Gorny & Mosch

On 12 July, the tradition-steeped Gorny & Mosch GmbH auction house on Maximiliansplatz in Munich’s old town will be hosting this year’s summer auction. With a variety of 789 lots and a total estimate of 1.2m euros, Gorny & Mosch will again take its customers into the fascinating world of rare objects with millennia of history.

Magnificent vases and bowls, wonderful bronze and stone sculptures as well as mosaics and jewelry from the Roman Empire and ancient Greece, extraordinary false doors, sarcophagus elements and faiences from North Africa, works of art form the ancient Orient, a fine collection of bifaces and fibulae from pre- and protohistory, marvelous craftsmanship from Byzantium, precious icons, opulent helmets and ceremonial shields from the Islamic world, rare masks and statuettes from pre-Columbian America, delicate Asian bronzes and tsubas, terracotta figures and wooden masks from Africa and Oceania – the selection is hand-picked and exquisite.

© Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung GmbH Auction 296, 2023, lot No. 1. (image: Michael Girschick, Starnberg).

A highlight of the current sale is definitely lot No. 1, a magnificent large Attic oinochoe (a wine jug with handle) from the period between 760–750 BC: an extraordinary and elaborately painted example of Greek geometric art, which is very rare in this excellent condition. It is estimated at 50,000 euros.

© Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung GmbH Auction 296, 2023 lot No. 65. (image: Michael Girschick, Starnberg).

Just as remarkable is lot No. 65, a beautiful bronze statuette of Aphrodite from the Hellenistic period (around 100 BC), which adorns the cover of the catalog. The estimate for the goddess of love and beauty is 18,000 euros.

© Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung GmbH Auction 296, 2023 lot No. 507. (image: Michael Girschick, Starnberg).

Not necessarily ancient but just as impressive are two small sculptures by world-renowned sculptor Seff Weidl (1915–1972), whose bronze figures can be marveled at in more than 30 German cities and come from the collection of the prestigious Dr. Meyer-Struckmann Foundation. Their estimates are at 500 euros each (lot No. 507 and 508).

© Gorny & Mosch Giessener Münzhandlung GmbH Auction 296, 2023, lot No. 28. (image: Michael Girschick, Starnberg).)

As spectacular as the rare pieces themselves are their extraordinary provenances: lot No. 28, a globular trefoil jug (600-475 BC), and an ovoid jug from the Roman imperial period were once in the private possession of Germany’s former Chancellor Willy Brandt (1913–1974). They will be sold together at an estimate of 750 euros. A charming Nazca clay bowl with hummingbirds  from pre-Columbian America, lot No. 400 (ca. AD 100–300) is from the estate of the famous “grande dame de la chanson” Juliette Gréco (1927–2020) and has an estimate of 800 euros. Lot No. 482 stems from the collection of French car manufacturer André Citroën (1878–1935): a wooden helmet mask from Gabon in an unusual shape, presented at an estimate of 3,500 euros.

As in previous years, GORNY & MOSCH is once again in a position to impress its clientele with coveted and extraordinary collectibles. Many objects were exhibited and published internationally, the authenticity of all objects has been verified by experts. It will be exciting to see what results the auction will bring!

Dates

• Viewing at the Gallery: Starting now: Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. – 6 p.m. (or after prior appointment)
• Public auction: Wednesday, 12 July 2023, 2 p.m.
• Electronic auction: Thursday, 13 July 2023, 2 p.m.