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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Eastern European Silver Inlaid War-Hammer
16th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £598
A copper-alloy war-hammer composed of ellipsoidal socket, waisted butt with shallow conical face and tapering, lozenge-section head, inlaid with a silver 'net' design. 453 grams, 18.5 cm
Private collection of Mr M.B., Mainz, Germany, 1990s. Property of a London businessman. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11203-186235.
The name obuch is Polish and means 'the blind end of an axe', but already at the beginning of the 15th century it meant a [unspecified] war hammer. According to Polish sources of 17th century, the war-hammer could have been formed into the shape of an axe (czekan), or in the form of a thick, slightly sloping spike (nadziak), or curved like a round cracknel (obuch). A 17th century description states: 'It was a terrible instrument in the hand of a Pole...With the sabre one could cut off somebody’s hand, cut the face, injure the head, and the running blood of the adversary would calm down the rancour. But with the obuch one could cause a deadly wound without even seeing the blood, and – not seeing it – he would not calm down instantly, but would strike several times without cutting the skin, breaking ribs and bones at the same time.' -
Large Danish Stone Age Neolithic Thin Butted Axe
Dolman Period, 3700-3300 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £416
A very finely polished axe with square edges and convex cutting edge, in yellow-brown flint with evidence of use as a 'strike-a-light' to the butt; with old collector label '179' to face. 758 grams, 20.5 cm
Fine condition.
Acquired 1990s. French private collection before 2020. Property of a Sussex, UK, teacher. -
Large Danish Stone Age Neolithic Thin Butted Axe
Dolman Period, 3700-3300 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £390
A finely knapped and polished axe with convex cutting edge and square sides in a grey chert; evidence of use as a 'strike-a-light' to the butt; old collector label '162' to face. 805 grams, 18 cm
Fine condition.
Acquired 1980s. French private collection before 2020. Property of a Sussex, UK, teacher. -
Large Danish Stone Age Neolithic Thin Butted Axe
Dolman Period, 3700-3300 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £546
A deeply knapped and part polished axe with square sides and convex cutting edge, this edge with contemporary re-working by knapping, in grey chert; with old collector labels '186' and 'Danewerk lumb 2000' to faces. 767 grams, 20.5 cm
Fine condition.
Acquired 1980s. French private collection before 2020. Property of a Sussex, UK, teacher. -
Stone Age Neolithic Polished Ceremonial Axe
Circa 10th-4th millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £780
A very finely polished axe with rounded sides tapering to a pointed butt with convex cutting edge in a mottled grey-green stone with white inclusions; with a custom-made wood stand bearing a label reading 'Neolithic Polished axehead 10,000-3,500 BC. / Originally from Musee Servaire. / Condat, France. Found in Brittany, Ploemel 1970s.' in three lines. 560 grams total, 20.3 cm high including stand
Pristine condition. Rare.
Found Brittany, 1970s. Acquired 2019 from Musee Servaire (Museum), Condat, France. Property of a Sussex, UK, teacher.
The workmanship and quality in the polishing on this axe is beautifully achieved; such axes, especially when in exotic materials such as seen here, were most probably intended for presentation or ceremonial use and were widely traded. -
Central European Bronze Age Votive Dagger with Hilt
16th-11th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,900
A bronze hilted dagger; blade with waisted profile and raised midrib to both faces, crescentic guard and ribbed grip, domed pommel. 235 grams, 40 cm
Private collection G.R Coope, 1930s-2011. Property of a Sussex, UK, teacher. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato. -
British Bronze Age 'The Manston Hoard' Palstave Axehead
14th-mid 12th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £338
A substantial bronze palstave axehead from the Manston hoard pit deposit, triangular flanges rise from the butt to the stop bar; a hollow to both faces below the septum; narrow body expanding to a wide triangular blade with slight flare at the tips. 505 grams, 18.5 cm
Fine condition.
Found near Manston, Kent, UK, 2016. Accompanied by copies of the British Museum PAS report number KENT-495597. Accompanied by a copy of a Treasure Act documentation under Treasure Reference 2016 T618.
At Manston was found a hoard of ten copper-alloy palstave axeheads, in one spot, described as 'one hole' and therefore possibly a pit deposit from the Middle-Late Bronze Age. A similar hoard of palstaves was also found in the immediate vicinity by the same finder at a later date, see PAS KENT-593613. These palstaves are comparable to those placed within Rowlands 'class 3 group 1', characterised by a U-shaped septum profile, low triangular or slightly convex flanges, a straight sided triangular or crinoline blade and a triangular depression or ribbed motif beneath the stop bar (Rowlands 1976, pp.32-33). Group 1 and 2 within class 3 are divided based on blade width, being 7-8cm and 5-6cm respectively, placing the above axes between the two, but probably within group 1. -
European Bronze Age Gold Twisted Torc
2nd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,340
A penannular neck-ring with clubbed finials, the shank twisted about its own axis. 10.24 grams, 12 cm
Acquired continental Europe. Ex Clements collection, by descent 2004. Ex TimeLine Auctions, 9 September 2015, lot 769. Property of an East Sussex, UK, gentleman. -
Iron Age Celtic Gold Miniature Torc Ring
1st century B.C.-1st century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,430
A penannular gold ring formed as a miniature torc, graduated biconical bulbs to the central section of the hoop and dished discoid terminals. 6.57 grams, 23.23 mm overall, 16.58 mm internal diameter (approximate size British J, USA 4 3/4, Europe 8.69, Japan 8)
Acquired from David Miller in 1974. Formerly with Maurice Braham and Lord Alistair McAlpine. Acquired in the early 2000s. From the collection of a late UK collector. -
Stone Age Neolithic Corded Ware Jar
3rd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £598
A corded ware ceramic jar composed of a carinated body with rounded shoulder and neck composed of four corded strands, recessed circles to the neck equator, geometric motifs to the shoulder and body; rounded base. 193 grams, 10.4 cm wide
Acquired 1971-1972. From the collection of the vendor's father. Property of a London, UK, collector. -
Viking Age Silver Odin Pendant with Ravens
9th-10th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,430
A discoid silver pendant with integral loop, beaded border enclosing a low-relief image of a male facing mask between two birds embraced at the necks. 3.03 grams, 25.8 mm
Private collection formed in Europe in the 1980s. Westminster collection, central London, UK. -
Magyar Gilt Sword Scabbard Mount with Two Ravens
Circa 10th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £494
A gilt copper-alloy scabbard mount composed of a semi-circular plate and tapering rectangular arm; displaying two stylised ravens in repoussé, their bodies addorsed, heads reversed and wings spread, set against a field of shallow incised foliate tendrils; extensive remains of gilding; perforated for attachment. 9.88 grams, 46 mm
Found UK. Acquired in the 1990s. From a North Yorkshire private collection, UK.