Wilmington is now home to a very specialized art dealer.

Clio Ancient Art & Antiquities, owned by Christof M. Maupin, offers jewelry, coins, art and artifacts from the ancient Mediterranean world: Rome, Egypt, Greece, Cyprus, the Near East and related cultures.

The company, formed in the San Francisco area in 2009, sells its inventory online through its website, www.clioancientart.com, to individuals, museums and universities all over the world, Maupin said. It also provides consulting services to collectors and museums, including Charlotte’s Mint Museum.

In mid-2012, Maupin moved his enterprise to Charlotte, but after a year, he and his wife decided that Wilmington would offer a better environment.

He said that when they went scouting for a more permanent home, they found Wilmington, “with all its well preserved history, a strong arts and culture scene and more relaxed lifestyle -- and the beaches,” he said. 

Clio offers objects in a wide range of materials, including stone, bronze, glass and textiles, and at a wide range of prices: from less than $50 to several thousand dollars, according to Maupin.

For the time being, Clio Ancient Art & Antiquities is operating out of Maupin’s home, but he said that he and his wife are scouting for a bricks-and-mortar location, probably in downtown Wilmington.