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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Roman 'Thames' Samian Ware Stamped Fragment Group
Circa 2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £143
A group of seven stamped Samian ware vessel bases including specimens labelled by the collector; accompanied by a copy of the collector's typed notes, identifying four of the stamps: 'g. MARCELLI I F Marcellinus Central Gaul mid 2nd century; h. ANNIO F Annius Central Gaul early 2nd century; i. NOBILIANI Nobilianus Central Gaul; j. SOLINI.OFI Solinus (officiana) Central Gaul mid 2nd century'; three non-identified stamps, possibly reading 'AEIOX.E; [ ]ERNI; MAX[]M'. 278 grams total, 3.8-10.3 cm
Found Billingsgate spoil from the Thames foreshore, London, UK. Acquired on the UK antiques market between 1974-1985. Albert Ward collection, Essex, UK. Accompanied by a copy of a typed original identification document from the Museum of London dated 29th August 1984. -
Roman Redware Sherd with Giant Geryon
3rd-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £124
A fragment of redware ceramic from a moulded vessel, low-relief design depicting the giant Geryon as a helmetted Roman Miles advancing, with gladius held ready in both his left hands and a studded round shield; modern mounting loop to the reverse. 36 grams, 78 mm
Acquired 1960s-1990s. From the late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister.
The image is a representation of the giant Geryon, a monster killed by Herakles usually represented with three bodies and three heads, or three heads and one body, or three bodies and one head. In the Roman iconography (but already visible in Greek iconography) he is often represented as an armoured warrior. The original pottery to which the fragment belonged was probably originally decorated with the labours of Hercules. -
Roman Epigraphic Gemstone with Symbols
4th-5th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £910
An epigraphic gem of oval shape, with a smooth surface on one side and inscriptions of a magical-Christian nature engraved in tondos and tabulae ansatae on the other side, one bearing the Greek letters Α and ω (Alpha and Omega) above the letters I and X. 0.84 grams, 17 mm
Acquired before 1988. Ex family collection, by descent, Geneva.
The letter Alfa and Omega (A W) are a clear link with a Christian cult, especially in this case in which the two letters are incised over the other two letter Iota and Chi IX, initials of the Greek Iesus Xριστός 'Christ'. The letters Alpha and Omega are symbols of eternity of the Divine Figure (I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End, Revelation, 22.13). -
Roman Marble Head of a Goddess
Late 4th century A.D. or laterSold for (Inc. bp): £416
A marble head of a lady or a goddess from a statuette, carved in the round with semi-naturalistic facial features and dressed hair with fillet; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 477 grams total, 12 cm high
London art market, 1988.
The head could represent a late Aphrodite, when compared with heads of the goddess of small late Roman statuettes. In these examples, like here, the goddess’ face is typical of idealised late-mythological statuary, with heavy eyelids, pronounced brow ridges, small lips and a soft jaw. -
Roman Ring with Leaping Gladiatorial Lion
Circa 2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £234
A bronze finger ring with raised ellipsoid bezel, incuse leaping lion motif. 5.21 grams, 21.25 mm overall, 17.32 mm internal diameter (approximate size British K, USA 5 1/4, Europe 9.95, Japan 9)
Acquired before 2000. From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK. -
Roman Terracotta Jar
1st-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £182
A bulbous ceramic jar with a short neck and rounded base. 998 grams, 20 cm wide
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. -
Roman Portrait Gemstone in Gold Ring
2nd-3rd century A.D. and laterSold for (Inc. bp): £1,690
A sardonyx cabochon gemstone with intaglio portrait bust of a male wearing a diadem, possibly Apollo; set in a later gold ring. 12.89 grams, 30.12 mm overall, 22.07 mm internal diameter (approximate size British X, USA 11 1/2, Europe 26.29, Japan 25)
Ex Dr. A.R., Leipzig, 1980-1980s. with Gorny and Mosch, 13 December 2017, lot 424. English private collection. -
Large Roman Aucissa Bow Brooch with Wolf's Face
1st-2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £91
A large bronze Aucissa variant type bow brooch with annulet decoration to the head, narrow half-round cross-section bow; the lower bow and foot forming a stylised wolf's face with pellet eyes and curved muzzle; hinged pin and catch to the reverse. 36 grams, 94 mm
German art market before 2000. With a European gentleman living in the UK. Property of a Surrey gentleman.
The fibula belongs to the series C of the Buchem classification of variant Aucissa fibulae. According to Kovrig, these military fibulae were produced in specific centres like Siscia (Sisak) in Pannonia and distributed throughout the Empire because of the mobility of the army. -
Roman Decorated Mirror
1st-3rd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £65
A copper-alloy discoid mirror with one tinned face. 70 grams, 98 mm diameter
Acquired on the London art market before 2000. Property of an Essex gentleman. -
Roman Marble Hand Holding Rope
1st-2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £260
A marble left hand modelled in the round gripping a sinuous object, likely a rope; semi-naturalistic detailing to the nails and palm. 738 grams, 12 cm
New York art market, 1992. -
Roman Ring with Dolphin Gemstone
2nd-3rd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £208
A bronze ring with expanding, rounded shoulders, the oblong bezel set with a carnelian intaglio engraved with a dolphin. 3.21 grams, 19.41 mm overall, 16.07 mm internal diameter (approximate size British G, USA 3 1/4, Europe 4.92, Japan 4)
Acquired before 2000. From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK. -
Roman Silver Lunar Pendant
3rd-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £85
A silver lunulate pendant of crescentic form with conical knops to the terminals; integral suspension loop. 6.2 grams, 30 mm
Acquired in the late 1990s-2000. Property of an East London gentleman.