BOULDER, Colo. - ColoradoDesk -- An exquisite pair of Royal Moche gold and mosaic ear ornaments fashioned circa 100-300 AD soared to $82,500 in the first of many anticipated auctions to be produced jointly by Artemis Fine Arts and Arte Primitivo. The large and important ear ornaments were the top lot in a February 26-27 sale whose 900 lots totaled just shy of $1.5 million.

Artemis Fine Arts is a Colorado auction house known internationally as a premier authority in the field of ancient and ethnographic art, while Arte Primitivo is a New York City auction gallery that specializes in Pre-Columbian, African, ethnographic and ancient art. This collaboration unites decades of combined expertise from the highest echelon of the antiquities field.

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"Our debut auction with Arte Primitivo attracted strong international participation and achieved excellent results across a wide range of collecting categories," said Teresa Dodge, owner and executive director of Artemis Fine Arts. "The sale demonstrated continued demand among serious collectors for exceptional works, with competitive bidding and outstanding prices realized during both sessions."

Day 1 featured 540 lots of fine Pre-Columbian, Native American, African, and Ethnographic Art. Day 2 contained 380 lots of Egyptian, Greek, Roman and Near Eastern antiquities, Asian art, fine arts and fossils. Including post-auction sales, the total sell-through rate was 82 percent. Nearly 100 new bidders registered to participate, and the sales lift achieved from running on four online-bidding platforms was 45 percent.

The aforementioned Royal Moche ear ornaments were composed of gold frames inlaid with colorful tessarae of gold, turquoise, Chilean lapis (sodalite), nephrite, jadeite and mother-of-pearl. The iconography on each was of a Moche lord or noble, facing in opposite directions and clad in full ceremonial regalia, all on a custom bronze base. These beautiful examples breezed past the $50,000 high estimate to bring $82,500.

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A lovely 11½-inch-tall seahorse vase by the Pueblo de Cochiti, NM artisan Victor Ortiz (b. 1969-) sold within estimate for $3,380. The large polychrome pottery vase was decorated with two opposing seahorses having long curled tails. The base was signed "Virgil Ortiz Cochiti Pueblo" in a fancy style, with the date "05." Ortiz's exquisite clay works are exhibited in museums worldwide.

To discuss consigning ancient art, antiquities or cultural relics to a future auction, call Teresa Dodge at 720-890-7700 or email teresa@artemisfinearts.com. All enquires are kept strictly confidential and there is never an obligation to consign. Visit Artemis Fine Arts online at www.artemisfinearts.com.