Artemis Fine Arts to Auction Ancient Pieces October 23
The upcoming online sale features 246 historical lots including rare Near Eastern artifacts and Qing dynasty works.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Fine Art
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Artemis Fine Arts in Boulder will conduct an online auction on October 23, 2026, offering collectors 246 distinct lots of ancient and Japanese art. The catalog spans significant historical periods from the Near East and the Mediterranean through the Qing dynasty.
Why it matters
This sale brings a diverse range of antiquity and decorative arts to a global audience of collectors through an accessible digital format. It provides a rare opportunity to acquire items ranging from Neolithic pendants to high-profile Qing dynasty figures.
The auction features 246 total lots, with estimated values ranging from $600 for a Bactrian bronze seal to $14,250 for a 36-inch temple attendant figure. Artemis Fine Arts applies a 30 percent buyer's premium to all winning bids.
The players
Artemis Fine Arts
This is a Boulder-based auction house specializing in the curation and sale of historical artifacts and fine art objects.
The details
The collection includes a Sumerian limestone plaque pendant from 2900-2334 BCE, a lapis lazuli necklace, and a Qing dynasty gilt-lacquered temple attendant. Japanese art offerings include a carved ivory okimono and a Satsuma earthenware vase featuring traditional Buddhist figures.
Timeline
2900-2334 BCE: The historical timeframe of the Sumerian limestone pendant.
2300-1700 BCE: The period associated with the Bactrian bronze seal.
1000 BCE-500 CE: The dating for the lapis lazuli necklace.
1868-1912: The era spanning the Japanese Meiji-period art pieces.
October 23, 2026: The date of the scheduled online auction.
Industry Dynamics
This auction reflects the ongoing market demand for cross-cultural antiquity sales, where auction houses increasingly pair ancient Near Eastern artifacts with refined East Asian decorative arts. By hosting this event online, Artemis Fine Arts mirrors broader industry trends toward digital accessibility for global fine art collectors.
Interested collectors can participate in the auction from any location via the online platform maintained by the house. Successful bidders must account for the additional 30 percent buyer's premium on top of the final hammer price when calculating their total investment.
The takeaway
Collectors should carefully review the catalog estimates and factor the 30 percent buyer's premium into their bidding strategy to avoid exceeding their total budget. Understanding the historical provenance of items like the temple attendant or Sumerian pendant is essential for informed purchasing.
Further reading
For more information on the auction items, visit the Fine Art section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Artdaily.
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