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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World Coins - Spain - Philip IV - 1653 - Cob 1 Real Dated 1653 A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £65
Potosi mint, Antonio de Elgueta. Obv: arms with illegible legend. Rev: cross potent with lions and castles alternating in quarters with illegible legend. 2.44 grams.
Fair.
Found whilst searching with a metal detector, Isle of Wight, UK, on 1 October 2014. Recorded by Isle of Wight Portable Antiquities Scheme Liaison Officer with reference numbers SZ 46183 and BNG 93479. Recorded with the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) with record number IOW-529668. Accompanied by a copy of the PAS report. -
World Coins - Italian States - Naples and Sicily - 1756 - 3 Tornesi Dated 1756 A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £13
Obv: profile bust with CAR D G UTR SIC ET HIER REX legend. Rev: PUBLICA / LÆTI / TIA in three lines within wreath with M - M at sides and date below. 9.03 grams.
Good fine.
Acquired Whitton Lang Auctions. Property of a Kent gentleman. -
World Coins - Copy of Almohad Dirham - North Africa - Square AR Dirham 12th-13th century A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £4
Obv: blundered inscription in three lines. Rev: blundered inscription in three lines. 1.34 grams.
Good fine.
Acquired in the mid 1980s. Property of a Harrow, UK, gentleman. -
World Coins - France - Various Denier and Obol Issues - Billingsgate Coin Hoard [7] Circa 12th century A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £124
Group comprising: issues of Henri I, Henry II, Guillaume I, Thibaut and anonymous issues, minted at Auxerre, Provins, Reims, St Martin-de-Tours and Troys; with envelopes giving full details. 16 grams total.
Fine; some better.
Found Billingsgate spoil from the Thames foreshore, London, UK. Recorded with the Museum of London circa 1984 and disclaimed. Acquired on the UK antiques market between 1974-1985. Albert Ward collection, Essex, UK. Accompanied by handwritten coin packets from the Museum of London. -
World Coins - USA - 1888 - Morgan AR Dollar Dated 1888 A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £33
Obv: profile bust with date below and E PLURIBUS UNUM legend. Rev: eagle standing with wings spread within wreath with In God We Trust above and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ONE DOLLAR legend. 26.76 grams.
Extremely fine.
Property of an Essex, UK, gentleman. -
World Coins - Sassanian - Khusru II - AR Drachm 590-627 A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £29
Obv: profile bust right with legends. Reb: fire altar and attendants with legends. 3.99 grams.
Very fine.
Ex UK collection. Property of a Harrow, UK gentleman. -
World Coins - Islamic - Ottoman - AR Akces Group [17] Circa 14th-early 16th century A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £39
Group comprising: mixed issues. 8.80 grams total.
Fine.
Essex gallery, early 2000s. -
World Coins - Crusader Issues - Jerusalem - John of Brienne - Billon Denier 1210-1225 A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £124
Obv: small cross and annulets in two quarters with +IOHES REX legend. Rev: head facing with +DAMIATA legend. 0.55 grams.
Good fine.
Ex Tripoli III hoard. Ex CNG sale 519, lot 567, with ticket. Property of a Harrow, UK, gentleman. -
World Coins - Replica Coins Group [8] 20th century A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £65
Group comprising replicas for: Roman, Lucius Verus, sestertius; Viking, lead penny; Spanish America, Charles III, '1783', 8 reales; USA trade dollars (3), dollars (2; '1797', '1893'); some in capsules. 211 grams total.
Near as struck.
Acquired Canterbury Auctions. Property of a Kent gentleman. -
World Coins - USA. - 1881 - Morgan AR Dollar Dated 1881 A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £46
Obv: profile bust with date below and E PLURIBUS UNUM legend. Rev: eagle standing with wings spread within wreath with In God We Trust above and UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ONE DOLLAR legend. 26.71 grams.
Good very fine.
Property of an Essex, UK, gentleman. -
World Coins - Tabaristan - Anonymous Issue - Half Dirham 7th century A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £26
Obv: profile bust right with inscriptions. Rev: fire altar and attendants with inscription. 1.78 grams.
Extremely fine.
Property of a North London gentleman. -
World Coins - Crusader Issues - Frankish Greece - William II - AR Denier 1246-1278 A.D.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £46
Obv: small cross with G PRINCEPS legend. Rev: building with CLARENTIA legend. 0.80 grams.
Near very fine.
Property of a Cambridgeshire, UK, gentleman. Accompanied by old dealer ticket.