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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Egyptian Carnelian Scarab
New Kingdom-Late Period, 1550-332 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,858
A finely carved carnelian scarab (Scarabaeus sacer) modelled naturalistically in the round with anatomical detailing to the carapace, head, legs and underside of the body; slightly domed profile; drilled laterally to the underside of the body for suspension. 3.07 grams, 19 mm
Fine condition.
From an early 20th century Home Counties collection. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.114474-196152.
The Egyptians saw the scarab as a symbol of renewal and rebirth. The beetle was associated with the sun god because scarabs roll large balls of dung in which to lay their eggs, a behavior that the Egyptians thought resembled the progression of the sun through the sky from east to west. Scarab amulets were used for their magical rejuvenating properties by both the living and the dead. The regenerative powers of scarabs such as the one offered here could be used by either the living or the dead for healing and protection. The striking red/orange colour of the carnelian stone used to produce this amulet strengthens its solar associations. -
Egyptian Beaded Mummy Face Mask
Late Period, 664-332 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £187
A restrung panel of small glazed composition beads in various colours representing a mummy face mask with false beard. 44 grams, 13 cm wide
Acquired 1990s. Ex Mariaud des Serres, Paris, France.
The practice of providing a bead mask as additional protection for the face of the mummy developed in the Late Period. The green beads used as the principal colour in the creation of the stylised face symbolise regeneration and re-birth. An example discovered at Esna in Upper Egypt and still attached to the face of a mummy is on display in the World Museum Liverpool (accession number 7.6.20.60). -
Egyptian and Other Faience and Hardstone Bead Collection
1st millennium B.C. and laterSold for (Inc. bp): £156
A mixed group of mainly faience, glass, shell and stone polychrome beads of various types and dates. 120 grams total, 2-23 mm
Acquired in the 1970s. Important European collection. -
Egyptian Glass Offering Cup Fragment Group with Cartouche
New Kingdom, 18th Dynasty, 1386-1349 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £78
A group of fragments of blue and white glass offering cups; one with a partial cartouche of Amenhotep III. 14 grams total, 30-34 mm
From a UK private collection, 1975-1978. -
Egyptian Faience Figure of Bes
Ptolemaic Period, 332-30 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £234
A green glazed composition figure of Bes standing on a base; plumed headdress and loop absent. 4.79 grams, 34 mm
Acquired early 1990s. Ex private American collection; thence by descent. Private Swiss collection since 1998. -
Egyptian and Roman Period Amulet Collection
1st millennium B.C. and laterSold for (Inc. bp): £124
A mixed group of mainly composition and glass amulets, most with piercings or loops for suspension; including glazed fruit, figures, amulets with geometric motifs and others. 8.9 grams total, 11-23 mm
From an early 20th century UK collection. -
Egyptian Alabaster Vessel
Late Period, 664-332 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £338
A piriform veined alabaster vessel with everted neck and broad rim. 342 grams, 78 mm high
French collection, 1960s-early 2000s. From an important Paris gallery, France. -
Egyptian Multi-Stranded Mummy Bead Necklace
Late Period, 664-525 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £286
A restrung faience mummy bead necklace comprising multiple strands of polychrome beads including annular and tubular types. 26 grams, 74 cm long
Acquired before 1979. From the private collection of Mr F. A., South Kensington, London, UK; thence by descent 2014. -
Egyptian Fly Amulet
Late Period, 664-525 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £143
A carnelian fly amulet with simple head and body detailing, the eyes doubling as the suspension loop. 0.43 grams, 12 mm
From an early 20th century UK collection. -
Egyptian Gilt Stucco Sphinx
Ptolemaic-Roman Period, 334 B.C.-332 A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £191
A gilt stucco sphinx from a funerary catafalque, lying couchant on a sub-rectangular base with stylised anatomical and facial detailing; accompanied by a custom-made wooden display base. 36 grams, 75 mm long (155 grams total, 10.8 cm including base)
Fine condition.
From a mid 20th century collection (based on the stand). With Richard Gill, Eternal Egypt, London SW19, 1990s. Acquired 31 August 1993. Property of a South Oxfordshire private collector. Accompanied by original invoice no.10575, dated 31 August 1993, and associated correspondence. -
Egyptian Seated Cat Amulet
Ptolemaic Period, 332-30 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £390
A carved carnelian amuletic pendant of the cat goddess Bastet, sitting on a rectangular base, suspension loop behind the shoulders. 1.82 grams, 16 mm
Acquired 1980s. Private collection of L.H., Staffordshire, UK. Property of a Sussex, UK, teacher. -
Egyptian Gold Fly Amulet
Late New Kingdom, 1550-1070 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £312
A sheet-gold fly amulet with heart-shaped wings, head formed as suspension loop. 0.72 grams, 18 mm
Acquired 1970-2010. Collection of a late Japanese gentleman.