Freeman's | Hindman Announces Antiquities And Ancient Art: Including Property From The Estates Of Andrew C. Ware And Iris C. Love

Freeman’s | Hindman is pleased to present Antiquities and Ancient Art: Including Property from the Estates of Andrew C. Ware and Iris C. Love (Sale 6428), taking place Wednesday, November 19, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. CT. This season’s sale features material from two distinguished estates. Andrew C. Ware (1945–2024), an Egyptologist and dedicated student of Christiane Desroches Noblecourt, built a collection that reflects both scholarly inquiry and personal passion. His holdings include Egyptian works preserved in private hands for decades, enriched by the depth of family history and intellectual curiosity. Iris Cornelia Love (1933–2020), the celebrated archaeologist whose excavations at Knidos and Samothrace brought her international recognition, also assembled a collection that blended academic rigor with flair.

“It’s a thrill to present the Iris Love collection,” said Jacob Coley, Vice President and Head of Antiquities & Ancient Art. “Following years of museum study and institutional loans, these pieces return to the spotlight for a new generation of collectors.”

The Estate of Andrew C. Ware (1945–2024) (Lots 1-28)

A devoted Egyptologist and student of Christiane Desroches Noblecourt, Andrew C. Ware assembled a collection that unites intellectual rigor with personal passion. His works—many held privately for decades—reflect both his academic pursuits and family legacy, offering fresh insight into Egypt’s artistic and spiritual traditions.

The Estate of Iris Cornelia Love (1933–2020) (Lots 187-219)

Iris Love with Aphrodite

Archaeologist and collector Iris Cornelia Love, described by The New York Times as “Indiana Jones in a miniskirt,” led excavations at Knidos and Samothrace and was among the first women to receive Turkish excavation permits. A charismatic scholar and cultural figure, Love brought ancient art to life for new audiences.

Her collection, portions of which were on long-term loan to The Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Brooklyn Museum for over three decades, demonstrates her extraordinary connoisseurship and deep personal engagement with classical antiquity.

Auction Highlights 

Lot 36 | Egyptian Painted Limestone Noblewoman (Old Kingdom, 5th–6th Dynasty) Estimate: $80,000 - 120,000 Towering over 18 inches, this finely modeled figure exemplifies the Old Kingdom’s devotion to lifelike presence and eternal commemoration. Held in European collections since the 1970s.

Lot 77 | An Over-Lifesized Roman Marble Torso (2nd Century A.D.) Estimate: $60,000 - 80,000 A commanding over-lifesized torso, nude but for a chlamys draped over one shoulder and a balteus (sword strap) crossing the chest, likely from a statue of an idealized hero or imperial figure. The dynamic stance and muscular modeling reflect the celebrated “Cumae-Munich Diomedes” type, inspired by Kresilas’ fifth-century B.C. statue of Diomedes. Exemplifying Hadrianic ideals of strength and restraint, this work has remained in a Chicago collection since 1989.

Lot 45 | Egyptian Bronze Cat (Late Period–Ptolemaic Period) Estimate: $30,000 - 50,000 Compact and graceful, this bronze feline embodies Egypt’s spiritual reverence for animals. Retaining a rich ancient patina, it was last seen at auction in 1987 and has been privately held for nearly forty years.

Many of these works have been unseen by the public for a generation, offering collectors and scholars a rare opportunity to engage directly with objects of remarkable beauty and historical importance.

Antiquities and Ancient Art: Including Property from the Estates of Andrew C. Ware and Iris C. Love reaffirms Freeman’s | Hindman’s ongoing commitment to presenting collections that connect audiences with the enduring legacy of the ancient world.

Additional Highlights:

· Lot 55 | A Cycladic Marble Female Torso | Estimate: $50,000 - 70,000

· Lot 91 | The Gréau Goddess | Estimate: $80,000 - 120,000

· Lot 152 | A South Arabian Alabaster Standing Worshipper | Estimate: $30,000 - 50,000

· Lot 160 | A Sumerian Copper Bowl with a Procession of Animals | Estimate: $25,000 - 35,000

Additional Highlights will be included in Antiquities, Fine, and Decorative Art: Including Property from the Estates of Andrew C. Ware and Iris C. Love