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 - Cut and Polished Agate Crystal Geode End Group
Sold for (Inc. bp): £13
A group of three cut agate geode sections with polished faces; colour-enhanced. 1.3 kg total, 88-93 mm
Mineral Imports, London, UK. Gregory, Bottley & Lloyd (Gregory's). -
Natural History - Very Large Quartz Crystal Specimen Group
Sold for (Inc. bp): £13
A group of three very large quartz crystal specimens, each with one pointed terminal. 1.36 kg total, 11.3-13 cm
From Brazil. Mineral Imports, London, UK. Gregory, Bottley & Lloyd (Gregory's). -
Natural History - Knightia Fossil Fish
Eocene Period, 56-33 million years B.P.Sold for (Inc. bp): £52
A pair of Knightia alta fossil fish in a matrix. 336 grams, 12.6 x 11 cm
From Wyoming, Green River Formation, U.S.A. Acquired during the 1980s. From the Pradi Collection, Boston, U.S.A.
Seasonally, some 56 million years ago, in the Green River Region of Wyoming, torrential rains fell on the mountains. The rain flowed down the mountain sides, forming wide shallow lakes in the valley below. During the dry season, these lakes evaporated (similar to certain parts of Africa today). Millions of fish died in this short period of time. This climatic cycle happened over a 20-thousand-year period. Layer upon layer of mud was deposited over these years, entombing huge numbers of fish. At a much later date volcanic activity uplifted this area to expose their fossils. -
Natural History - Sikhote Alin Meteorite
Fell 12th February 1947 A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £78
An entire piece of the the Sikhote-Alin meteorite, showing the characteristic outer surface; held in a white card collector's tray. 13 grams, 29 mm
Very fine condition.
From the Sikhote-Alin Mountains. Ex Lincolnshire, UK, collection.
Classified as an iron meteorite belonging to the chemical group IIAB and with a coarse octahedrite structure. The Sikhote-Alin meteorite fell during daylight at 10:38 am. local time on 12th February, 1947. Witnesses reported a fireball that was brighter than the sun. It came from about 15 degrees east of north and descended at an angle of 41 degrees. It left a trail of smoke and dust 20 miles long which lingered for several hours. Light and sound of the fall were observed for two hundred miles around the point of impact. -
Natural History - Medium Agate Crystal Geode Half Group
Sold for (Inc. bp): £26
A mixed group of agate geode halves, most displaying crystals to the exposed inner recesses. 1.8 kg total, 2.8-6.8 mm
Mineral Imports, London, UK. Gregory, Bottley & Lloyd (Gregory's). -
Natural History - Fossil Ginkgo Leaf in Matrix
Paleocene Period, circa 66-56 million years B.P.Sold for (Inc. bp): £7
A fossil Ginkgo sp. leaf in an amorphous matrix; held in a white card collector's tray. 91 grams, 77 mm
From the Sentinel Butte Formation, North Dakota. Ex Cambridgeshire, UK, collection. -
Natural History - Large 75.5 Carat Hexagonal Ruby Crystal
Sold for (Inc. bp): £13
A large ruby crystal, hexagonal in plan with striations. 15.1 grams, 28 mm
Fine condition, chipped.
Ex UK art market, 1970s. Property of a London gentleman. -
Natural History - Quartz Crystal Mineral Specimen Group
Sold for (Inc. bp): £39
A group of 50 clear quartz crystals in a bag with label: '50 / QUARTZ CRYSTAL (Brazil)'. 392 grams total, 27-41 mm
From Brazil. Mineral Imports, London, UK. Gregory, Bottley & Lloyd (Gregory's). -
Natural History - Fossil Otodus Shark Teeth on Matrix
Eocene Period, 56-33 million years B.P.Sold for (Inc. bp): £26
A matrix set with five fossil Otodus sp. teeth, including examples with cusplet teeth and remains of enamelling. 1.97 kg, 18.2 cm
From Morocco, North Africa. Ex Cambridgeshire, UK, collection. -
Natural History - Lapis Lazuli Bead Necklace
Sold for (Inc. bp): £33
A graduated string of tumbled natural variegated lapis lazuli pebble beads with clasp. 100 grams, 45 cm long
Fine condition.
UK gallery, acquired in the 2000s. Property of an English gentleman. -
Natural History - Blue Calcite Mineral Specimens
Sold for (Inc. bp): £33
A group of 50 blue calcite mineral specimens with waxy lustre. 514 grams total, 25-43 mm
From Mexico. Mineral Imports, London, UK. Gregory, Bottley & Lloyd (Gregory's). -
Natural History - Large Polished Goniatite Display Plate
Devonian Period, 417-354 million years B.P.Sold for (Inc. bp): £195
A fossil Goniatite sp. ammonoid display plate, polished to reveal the internal structure of the gas-chambers. 4.8 kg, 36 cm
From Morocco, North Africa. Ex Cambridgeshire, UK, collection.