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New York - A 9,000-year-old limestone mask, the oldest art objectever offered at Christie's, could sell for up to US$600,000(S$765,420) when it goes under the hammer in June, the auctionhouse said on Wednesday. The rare Neolithic limestone mask, which evokes a human skull andresembles a modern-day hockey mask, is one of the earliestsculptural types to survive from antiquity, according toChristie's. "Only very few of these masks are known," said Molly Morse Limmer,head of Christie's Antiquities department in New York. "All were found in the Judean desert, all were carved of limestone,and all represent the human skull." The Judean desert's extreme dry conditions helped preserve themask. It's function is a mystery but Limmer said its origins dated to atime when complex societies were first evolving. "No doubt they represent one of the earliest human attempts toconnect with the spiritual world," she said. "Given the skeletal representation, it would be logical that theyrelate to death rituals or ancestor worship." Small holes drilled along the perimeter suggest that hair mighthave been added, or they might have been used to secure the mask onthe face of a dead person, or to a wall, pillar or statue,according to Christie's. The nine-inch (22.8 cm) mask, which is being sold by a New Yorkcollector, will be part of Christie's antiquities sale in New Yorkon June 8, when about 260 lots are expected to fetch about US$8million. Antiquities have achieved some astounding prices in recent years. A Roman Imperial marble bust sold for US$23.8 million in late 2010,nearly 10 times its pre-sale estimate, while a limestone lionessfigure circa 3,000 B.C. fetched more than $57 million in 2007. The art market itself has been on a roll, with records set thismonth for post-war art as well as the most expensive work ever soldat auction. Other highlights of the sale include a Greek bronze mirror circa300 to 350 B.C. which is estimated to sell for US$600,000 toUS$900,000, and two Roman works of art each expected to sell for asmuch as US$500,000. A marble torso of Venus dates to the 1st to 2nd century A.D., whilea marble head of Apollo is from the 2nd century A.D. I am an expert from custom-printedglassware.com, while we provides the quality product, such as Sealed Glass Jars Manufacturer , China Glass Cup With Handle, Glass Essential Oil Bottles,and more.
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