Anthony Quinn’s collection of ancient Greek and Roman artifacts and Vincent Korda’s Roman lion mask went to auction at Bonhams Antiquities Sale in London this week. The legendary actor Anthony Quinn and filmmaker Vincent Korda were both keen art collectors.
Anthony Quinn (1915-2001) was known to the world for his performances in films such as Zorba the Greek, Lawrence of Arabia, La Strada and Viva Zapata! – a stellar career in which he won two Oscars. What is less well known is that he was a keen artist and collector.
Two of his six antiquities in this sale are: three Cycladic marble heads, circa 2600-2200 BC, estimated to sell for £5,000-7,000 (US $7,600-11,000), and a Roman marble relief fragment, circa 1st-2nd Century AD, depicting a meeting of the gods. The standing figure of Zeus is on the right, with his himation draped around his hips and over his left shoulder, holding his staff, facing a draped figure of Athena holding her spear and wearing a crested helmet. A male figure wearing a pilos, probably one of the Dioskouroi, stands behind her on the far left, and the right arm of another figure on the far right next to Zeus, holding a phiale, is possibly Hades. It was estimated to sell for £7,000-9,000 (US $11,000-14,000).
