Roman Life-Size Torso of Diomedes, 1st Century AD, Sold at Freeman's for $106,250
On Wednesday, March 13, 2019, Freeman's presented an exciting single-owner sale of Antiquities & Tribal Art from renowned New York and Hollywood talent agent Jeff Hunter (1926-2018). Comprising just shy of 50 lots, the sale garnered significant interest from both national and international buyers, achieving an impressive 100% sell-through rate and totaling $536,426, more than double its pre-sale high estimate.
Hunter bought from high-quality sources so the emergence of his collection at auction represented an exciting moment for the market. As such, nearly two-thirds of the lots sold above their estimates, with many highlights emerging from the auction. Top price was achieved by a Roman carved marble life-sized torso of Diomedes (Lot 34, Estimate: $20,000-30,000), which, after spirited bidding, ultimately earned $106,250. Other Roman marbles performed very well, including a carved marble torso of the "Spinario", dating from the 1st century BC-1st century AD (Lot 23, Estimate: $30,000-50,000), which realized $93,750, and a Roman head of Alexander the Great as Helios (Lot 30, Estimate: $10,000-15,000), from the 2nd century AD, that earned over five times its low estimate and sold for $62,500.
Roman Torso of the Spinario, 1st Century BC-1st Century AD, Sold at Freeman's for $93,750
Other notable results include a Central Indian torso of a celestial being (Lot 35, Estimate: $2,000-3,000), circa 10th century AD, which sold for $20,800 and an over life-sized sculpture of Buddha (Lot 39, Estimate: $30,000-50,000) from the 1st-2nd century AD, which achieved $59,375. A group of Anatolian carved marble idols dating from circa 2,700-2,100 BC sold for several times their original estimates: Lot 14 (Estimate: $600-800) garnered $7,150; Lot 15 (Estimate: $600-800) sold for $6,500; and Lot 16 (Estimate: $800-1,200), of schematic human form from the renowned Ishiguro Collection, realized a remarkable $13,000.
Roman Head of Alexander the Great as Helios, c. 2nd Century AD, Sold for $62,500
“"We are very encouraged by the results of this single-owner sale as it demonstrates our ability to present, showcase and successfully sell quality and fresh-to-market private collections and to achieve exceptional prices in Philadephia for property found in New York."”
Chairman Alasdair Nichol
The white glove auction of the Jeff Hunter Collection is testimony to Freeman's success with refined single-owner collections. "We are very encouraged by the results of this single-owner sale," remarked Chairman Alasdair Nichol, "as it demonstrates our ability to present, showcase and successfully sell quality and fresh-to-market private collections and to achieve exceptional prices in Philadephia for property found in New York."
