G. Max Bernheimer is one of the world’s leading experts in the field of ancient art. For over three decades Bernheimer was the international director of antiquities at Christie’s. During his tenure, the department became the world leader for ancient art at auction, setting many world records ranging from single works of art to specialized single-owner collection sales. Prior to joining Christie’s, he worked at the family business, Bernheimer’s Antique Art, a much beloved Cambridge, MA, institution.
Bernheimer received his BA in ancient history at Clark University in Worcester, MA in 1982. As an undergraduate he also attended the Intercollegiate Center for Classical Studies in Rome in the fall of 1981. He received his MA in Classical Civilizations from Harvard University in 1987. He also attended the American School for Classical Studies in Athens, summer 1985. His thesis was “Greek Engraved Gems in the Harvard University Art Museums”. He also participated in archeological excavations at Caesarea in Israel, summer 1991, sponsored jointly by the University of Maryland and Haifa University.
Bernheimer has authored several volumes in collaboration with the Bible Lands Museum Jerusalem documenting the collection of Dr. Elie Borowski including “Ancient Gems from the Borowski Collection” (2007) and “Glories of Ancient Greece” (2001), an exhibition catalogue for ancient Greek vases and jewelry. He also co-authored “Reflections on Ancient Glass from the Borowski Collection” (2002) and “Dragons, Monsters and Fabulous Beasts” (2004).
Our specialization spans the ancient Mediterranean world, from the dawn of Egyptian civilization to the fall of the Roman Empire.
Sculpture, relief, jewelry, and funerary objects from the Old Kingdom through the Ptolemaic Period. We maintain particularly strong holdings in New Kingdom material.
Attic pottery, marble sculpture, bronze work, and jewelry from the Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic periods. Our Greek holdings are among the finest in private hands.
Portrait sculpture, architectural elements, glass, silver, and decorative arts from the Roman Republic and Empire. Particular strength in portraiture and sarcophagi.
Mesopotamian, Anatolian, and Levantine objects including cylinder seals, cuneiform tablets, and bronze work from Sumerian through Achaemenid periods.
Gold, silver, and precious stone jewelry from across the ancient world. We specialize in Hellenistic gold work and
Roman cameos.
Greek, Roman, and Byzantine coinage. Our numismatic department works closely with major institutional collections and maintains extensive reference archives.
