Auction Highlights
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Egyptian Red Glass Face Inlay
Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,640
A red glass insert of a profile face with remains of a pharaonic crown to the forehead. -
Egyptian Thoth as an Ibis with Maat
Sold for (Inc. bp): £6,500
A blue-glazed composition amulet in the form of an ibis (representing the god Thoth) seated on a wedge-shaped base, facing a figure of Maat appearing as a diminutive stooping female with an ostrich feather; some details to both figures rendered in a darker blue glaze; suspension loop to the rear of the bird's neck. -
Egyptian Bust of Ptah
Sold for (Inc. bp): £13,000
A white limestone figure of the god Ptah with false beard, wearing an enveloping cloak and a broad wesekh-collar, holding the shaft of a was sceptre; serene, oval face with almond-shaped eyes and fleshy lips; remnants of dorsal pillar to reverse; mounted on a custom-made display stand. -
Large Greek Hydria with Egg-and-Dart Motifs
Sold for (Inc. bp): £9,525
A spectacular bronze hydria composed of a tapering body, broad shoulder and waisted neck, the everted rim decorated with egg-and-dart motifs, three round-section handles and tiered, ogival foot; professionally restored. -
Large Greek Apulian Red-Figure Bell-Krater
Sold for (Inc. bp): £28,600
A red-figure terracotta bell-krater displaying polychrome figural panels between a laurel wreath and a band of Greek key motifs; side a) two robed male figures holding staffs, wearing a taenia or a band around the head, standing facing a central altar; side b) a woman wearing a chiton and holding a casket and olive sprig in her outstretched hands, advancing right towards a nude man standing right, his head turned towards her, holding a bucket and olive sprig, a cloak draped over his arm, elaborate volute palmettes beneath both handles; restored. -
Roman Military Eagle Staff Terminal
Sold for (Inc. bp): £11,050
A free-standing bronze imperial or military eagle terminal from a staff or a sceptre, modelled in the round in a dynamic pose standing on a globe, wings spread, head turned to the right, semi-naturalistic anatomical and feather detailing; the globe bearing an incised eight-armed stylised Macedonian star; sub-triangular lug to back of the neck; collar to globe with hollow underside. -
'The Castleford Military Garrison' Romano-British 'Regio Lagitiensis' Inscribed Brooch
Sold for (Inc. bp): £4,940
The best example of only three examples of this type known, a copper-alloy knee brooch composed of a rectangular-section body, spring pin within bow plate and remains of catchplate to reverse; both sides of the body with two panels of Latin lettering moulded in relief: 'FIBUL[A] EX REG LAGITIENSE', translating to 'Brooch from the Regio Lagitiensis' (Roman Castleford); remains of blue glass enamelling to the recessed fields. -
Large 'King Nebuchadnezzar the Great' Brick from the Wall of Babylon
Sold for (Inc. bp): £5,980
A large fired clay brick from the Wall of Babylon bearing six lines of stamped Babylonian cuneiform inscription to one face which reads: 'AG - ku -dur-ri-URU' / 'LUGAL ba-bi-lu' / 'za-ni-nu é-sag-ila' / 'u e-zi-da IBILA' / 'SAG.KAL. sa AG-IBILA-URU' / 'LUGAL ba-bi-lu ana-ku', which translates: 'Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, who provides for Esagila and Ezida, the eldest son of Nabopolassar, king of Babylon, am I'; traces of bitumen on the blank side; accompanied by an old label which reads: 'Brick from the Wall of Babylon / Presented by W.Bro. Gentle-Cackett Secretary Bible Lands Mission / The impression records the fact that it was built by King Nebuchadnezzar [II]'. -
Roman Legionary Helmet with Wings of Jupiter
Sold for (Inc. bp): £52,000
A tinned sheet-bronze legionary helmet of Imperial Gallic Type A with deep rounded bowl, simple C-shaped cut-outs for the ears, integral flared neck-guard extending some way along the sides, corrugated ribs to the occipital area at the rear and corrugated 'wings' or eyebrows (Russel-Robinson's Type E) above the brow; small stud the rear of the neck-guard attaching suspension loops to the underside; hinged bracket at each temple for a deeply curved cheek-guard with gently flared rim, bearing a loop to the inner face to accept an vinculum fastening strap; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. -
Anglo-Saxon Gilt Chip-Carved Mount with Interlaced Panels
Sold for (Inc. bp): £6,240
A gilt copper-alloy mount composed of a broad annular body with slightly domed profile, the body quartered with each cell displaying a chip-carved interlace motif configured A:B:A:B; rim, edges and central cell with raised rim; rivet and flat-section mounting bar to reverse. -
'The Pershore' Anglo-Saxon Hanging Bowl Mount with Horse-Head
Sold for (Inc. bp): £7,150
A bronze bowl mount or escutcheon comprising a discoid panel with gently curved profile and zoomorphic hook; the panel with reserved La Tène comma-leaf decoration on a pounced field (intended to receive enamel fill); the hook with median gusset to the outer face, horse-head finial, bulbous La Tène ornament at the base. -
'The Siddington' Impressive Anglo-Saxon Chip-Carved Saucer Brooch Pair
Sold for (Inc. bp): £24,700
A pair of large Early Anglo-Saxon gilt copper-alloy saucer brooches each comprising a broad (13mm+) angled flange surrounding a central disc with carinated border; outer zone comprising four arches subdivided by hatching to the inner edge and four C-shaped panels with triangular separators, inner zone separated by a carinated border, central disc with four radiating bilinear crescents; pin-lugs and catch to the reverse with traces of mineralised fabric. -
English Medieval Silver Chessman Type Seal Matrix for Stephen of Ale Lane
Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,510
A silver chessman-type seal matrix with pierced trefoil head and knop above; central motif of a leopard statant gardant before a tree, pelletted border and blackletter legend '* sigillum [lozenge] steffani [cinquefoil cinquefoil] ale [cinquefoil lozenge] lane' (for 'seal of Stephen [at?] ale lane'). -
'The Bettiscombe' Medieval Gold 'Loyalty is Everything' Posy Ring
Sold for (Inc. bp): £4,160
An annular gold band with everted upper and lower lip, filigree ropework above and below each rim, with circumferential inscription to the recessed exterior face; of the five separate bands, the central one accommodating an applied strip of paler gold bearing a Medieval French blackletter inscription in relief, reading: '+loiautet (5 five cinquefoils) pas tout (5 five cinquefoils)', or 'Loyalty Passes All'; the inscription band may once have been enamelled; plain interior; the outer rim and twisted band on one edge are slightly bent; cleaned and repaired. -
Stuart Period Gold Renaissance Memento Mori Signet Ring with C.L. and Skull
Sold for (Inc. bp): £19,500
A substantial gold signet ring composed of a lentoid-section hoop, expanding capital style shaped shoulders and irregular octagonal bezel engraved with a skull, two flowers below separating the reversed initials in capitals: 'CL', framed by a beaded border. -
Marble Statue of Kneeling Venus
Sold for (Inc. bp): £14,950
A marble copy of the kneeling Venus (original in the Vatican Museums), crouching on an octagonal base; the arms raised in expressive pose, head tilted, hair drawn up in a chignon; lettering to base 'KNEELING VENUS' and 'ROME'.
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Natural History - Hyphalosaurus Fossil in Matrix
Cretaceous Period, circa 122 million years B.P.Sold for (Inc. bp): £52
A Hyphalosaurus sp. fossil aquatic reptile in a sub-rectangular matrix; held in a display box with a fabric covering. 150 grams, 16 cm (344 grams total, 24.5 x 17.5 cm including box)
From China. Ex Lincolnshire, UK, collection.
Hyphalosaurus means 'submerged lizard' and was a genus of freshwater aquatic reptiles that resembled miniature plesiosaurs. It was an active predator that captured small prey animals like arthropods and fish with a sideways strike, similar to modern crocodiles. -
Natural History - Cut and Polished Agate Coaster Set
Sold for (Inc. bp): £7
A group of six graduated and polished agate coasters with felt backings. 572 grams total, 8.8-12.7 cm
Mineral Imports, London, UK. Gregory, Bottley & Lloyd (Gregory's). -
Natural History - Cut and Polished Agate Slice
Sold for (Inc. bp): £39
A cut and polished banded agate slice, displayed on a crescentic wooden base. 278 grams, 18 cm high
From Uruguay. Private collection, Munster, Germany. -
Natural History - Cut and Polished Fossil Cleoniceras Ammonite Halves
Jurassic Period, 199-145 million years B.P.Sold for (Inc. bp): £39
A pair of cut Cleoniceras sp. ammonite halves, polished to reveal the distinctive structure of the chambers; some iridescence; chip to edge of one half. 565 grams total, 13.6 cm each
From Madagascar. Ex Lincolnshire, UK, collection. -
Natural History - Australian Agate Creek Cut and Polished 'Thunder Egg' Pair
Sold for (Inc. bp): £34
Two halves of a cut Australian 'thunder egg', with both exposed faces polished. 455 grams total, 82 mm each
Agate Creek, Australia. Mineral Imports, London, UK. Gregory, Bottley & Lloyd (Gregory's). -
Natural History - Lapis Lazuli Bead Necklace
Sold for (Inc. bp): £33
A graduated string of tumbled natural variegated lapis lazuli pebble beads with clasp. 139 grams, 45 cm long
Fine condition.
UK gallery, acquired in the 2000s. Property of an English gentleman. -
Natural History - Giant Elephant Bird Eggshell Group
Pleistocene Period, 2.6 million-11,700 years B.P.Sold for (Inc. bp): £13
A group of two eggshell sections from the Giant Elephant Bird Aepyornis sp.; supplied in a display case. 221 grams total, 13.5 x 15.7 cm including case
From Madagascar. Acquired 1950s-1960s. From an old Bristol, UK, paleontological collection. Property of a Leicestershire, UK, private collector. Accompanied by an identification slip.
Elephant bird was a gigantic, flightless bird, measuring nearly 10 feet in height, and lived on the island of Madagascar until it became extinct, possibly as late as the 17th century. -
Natural History - Citrine and Amethyst Gem Tree
Sold for (Inc. bp): £13
A medium size gemstone tree consisting of a brass trunk and branches tipped with polished citrine, mounted on a section of amethyst geode. 518 grams, 18 cm high
Mineral Imports, London, UK. Gregory, Bottley & Lloyd (Gregory's). -
Natural History - Amethyst Crystal Section Group
Sold for (Inc. bp): £20
A trio of differently sized amethyst geode sections with crystals of various sizes and shades of purple. 1.24 kg total, 11-13.3 cm
From Brazil. Mineral Imports, London, UK. Gregory, Bottley & Lloyd (Gregory's). -
Natural History - Pink Dolomite Crystal Specimen Group
Sold for (Inc. bp): £1
A group of ten pink dolomite specimens, each held in a white card collector's tray and labelled 'Touissite Morocco'. 405 grams total, 38-59 mm
From Touissite, Morocco, North Africa. Mineral Imports, London, UK. Gregory, Bottley & Lloyd (Gregory's). -
Natural History - Welsh Fossil Trilobite Group
Ordovician Period, 485-444 million years B.P.Sold for (Inc. bp): £20
A group of three matrices containing partial Ogygiocarella sp. fossil trilobites. 1.09 kg total, 10-15.3 cm
From Powys, Wales, UK. Ex Lincolnshire, UK, collection. -
Natural History - Large Dravite Tourmaline Specimen Group
Sold for (Inc. bp): £33
A group of seven large dravite tourmaline crystal specimens of columnar hexagonal form. 1.05 kg total, 41-87 mm
Mineral Imports, London, UK. Gregory, Bottley & Lloyd (Gregory's).