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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Ancient Roman Imperial Coins - Vetranio - Emperor Standing Bronze March-December 350 A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Thessalonica mint. Obv: D N VETRANIO P F AVG legend with diademed, draped and cuirassed bust right. Rev: CONCORDIA MILITVM legend with emperor standing facing holding labarum with chi-rho in each hand; mintmark TSΔ in exergue, A - Δ across fields. 4.11 grams.
Near extremely fine. Scarce.
Property of a North London gentleman. -
Byzantine Coins - Anastasius I - Victory Gold Solidus 491-518 A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £393
Constantinople mint. Obv: D N ANASTASIVS P P AVG legend with helmeted and cuirassed three quarter facing bust. Rev: VICTORI AVGGG I legend with Victory standing left holding long voided cross; * in right field, CONOB in exergue. 4.38 grams.
Very fine.
Ex nv Jean Elsen & ses Fils sa V 151, lot 662. Property of a Harrow, UK gentleman. Accompanied by a Jean Elsen lot ticket. -
Byzantine Coins - Justinian I - Gold Solidus 527-565 A.D
Sold for (Inc. bp): £483
Constantinople mint. Obv: D N IVSTINIANVS P P AVG legend with helmetted and cuirassed bust facing holding globus cruciger and shield. Rev: VICTORIA AVGGG Γ legend with angel standing facing holding long staff surmounted by chi-rho and globus cruciger with star in right field; mintmark OBX X in exergue. 3.73 grams.
Near as struck.
Ex UK private collection. -
Byzantine Coins - Andronicus III - AR Reduced Basilikon 1328-1341 A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £846
Constantinople mint. Obv: nimbate Christ enthroned facing. Rev: Andronicus and St Demetrius standing facing. 1.45 grams.
Good very fine. Rare.
Property of a North London gentleman. Accompanied by collector ticket. -
Byzantine Coins - Andronicus III - AR Reduced Basilikon 1328-1341 A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £352
Constantinople mint. Obv: Christ enthroned facing. Rev: emperor at left and St Demetrius at right standing facing. 0.96 grams.
Good fine. Rare.
With a descriptive ticket. Property of a London gentleman. -
World Coins - Cologne - Henry II - AR Pfennig 1306-1372 A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £85
Obv: seated archbishop facing holding crozier with HENRICVS ARCI [ ] legend. Rev: building facade with five towers and BEATA VE PON A VINCES legend. 1.02 grams.
Very fine.
Ex European collection. Property of a Harrow, UK, gentleman. -
World Coins - Kings of Elymais - Kamnaskires III - Portrait AR Tetradrachm 62-46 B.C.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £114
Obv: profile bust left. Rev: small profile bust left with corrupt Greek legend around. 15.70 grams.
Very fine.
Acquired on the UK art market. -
World Coins - Kings of Elymais - Kamnaskires III - Portrait AR Tetradrachm 62-46 B.C.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £114
Obv: profile bust left. Rev: small profile bust left with corrupt Greek legend around. 15.14 grams.
Very fine.
Acquired on the UK art market. -
World Coins - Kings of Elymais - Kamnaskires III - Portrait AR Tetradrachm 62-46 B.C.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £114
Obv: profile bust left. Rev: small profile bust left with corrupt Greek legend around. 15.03 grams.
Very fine.
Acquired on the UK art market. -
World Coins - Islamic - Fatamid - Gold Quarter Dinar Circa 400-500 h.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £170
Obv: inscription in two lines with legend around. Rev: inscription in two lines with legend around. 0.63 grams.
Very fine.
Property of a North London gentleman. -
World Coins - Saxony - Luneburg - Bernhard I - AR Denier 973-1011 A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £72
Obv: profile bust with BERNHARDVS DVX legend. Rev: small cross with N NOMINI DNI AMEN legend. 1.34 hrams.
Good very fine.
Ex Robert Buczak, Warsaw, lot 57, with ticket. Property of a Harrow, UK, gentleman. -
British Commemorative Medals - Franklin Mint - The Kings and Queens Collection - Silver Gilt Medals Set in Binder [43] Issued 1977 A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £156
Set of 43 silver-gilt medallions (struck at 17 grams each) depicting all of the kings and queens of England from Edward the Confessor to Elizabeth II, issued in 1977 to commemorate the jubilee of Elizabeth II; each in its capsule of issue and mounted on heavy card pages within custom dark blue lettered binder; accompanied by a smaller and matching binder of information pages and the original certificate of authenticity (named to Mr John William Stimson, the original purchaser). 4.7 kg total, 18.2 x 22 - 31.2 x 24 cm
As struck.
Ex J W Stimson collection. Property of a Birmingham gentleman.