Home > Auctions > 21 - 25 February 2023
Ancient Art, Antiquities, Natural History & Coins
Auction Highlights:
Sold for (Inc. bp): £4,940
.jpg "Anglo-Saxon Gilt Chip-Carved Mount with Interlaced Panels")
.jpg "The Siddington Impressive Anglo-Saxon Chip-Carved Saucer Brooch Pair")
Sold for (Inc. bp): £4,160
A copper-alloy steelyard weight in the form of an empress with an elaborate hairstyle, worn facial detailing. 175 grams, 70 mm
Acquired early 2000s.
Property of a Birmingham, UK, collector.
Property of an Essex, UK, gentleman.
Acquired early 2000s.
Property of a Birmingham, UK, collector.
Property of an Essex, UK, gentleman.
A clear glass unguentarium with a pear-shaped body, tubular neck and rolled rim; iridescent surfaces. 35 grams, 13.5 cm high
French collection, 1960s-early 2000s.
From an important Paris gallery, France.
French collection, 1960s-early 2000s.
From an important Paris gallery, France.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £650
A gold ring composed of a flat-section hoop with decorative channelling, oval bezel with granulated border, set with a flat-top polished garnet gemstone. 0.99 grams, 16.41 mm overall, 14.20 mm internal diameter (approximate size British F 1/2, USA 3, Europe 4.3, Japan 4)
Acquired 1970-2000s.
Ex Abelita family collection.
Acquired 1970-2000s.
Ex Abelita family collection.
A bronze bell of quadrilateral form, with a rectangular cross-section at base, tapering to a rounded dome with large integral suspension loop with five facets to the outer face; clanger absent. 160 grams, 83 mm
Acquired before 2000.
From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK.
Cf. The Metropolitan Museum, New York, accession numbers 98.11.34; 89.4.2429 and 89.4.1614, for similar.
The Romans used bells in ritual and secular contexts, when they could be suspended from the necks of animals, worn for talismanic protection or as anklets by servants.
Acquired before 2000.
From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK.
Cf. The Metropolitan Museum, New York, accession numbers 98.11.34; 89.4.2429 and 89.4.1614, for similar.
The Romans used bells in ritual and secular contexts, when they could be suspended from the necks of animals, worn for talismanic protection or as anklets by servants.
A trio of bronze key rings with rectangular bits, including an openwork example. 13.9 grams total, 19-23 mm
Acquired in the 1970s.
Important European collection.
Acquired in the 1970s.
Important European collection.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £468
A gemstone with one side incised with the head of Zeus Serapis wearing a modius crown, seen in profile to the left, surrounded by Greek letters I,Λ,φ, ν, Λ,Λ,Ϲ,Ϲ,Ε,Δ; the other side with enigmatic inscription 'BIKIω PIΗΔνMΗ IΔ φI ΛA'. 0.86 grams, 12 mm
Acquired before 1988.
Ex family collection, by descent, Geneva.
Cf. Henig, M. and MacGregor, A., Catalogue of the Engraved Gems and Finger-Rings in the Ashmolean Museum. II. Roman, Oxford, 2004, no. 1.104, for a parallel.
Serapis was a Graeco-Egyptian god, whose cult was popularised during the 3rd century B.C. on the orders of Ptolemy I of Egypt, to facilitate the religious syncretism of his kingdom. During the Roman Empire his image was widely diffused in the east. Usually a third of these gems carry magical words which shows that they were used as amulets or for some other ritual purpose. These magical gems were inscribed with acclamations or prayers that suggest they were used as amulets for protection (in this case of Serapis) or to acquire charm, but only some of them can be linked with some divinatory or prophylactic purpose.
Acquired before 1988.
Ex family collection, by descent, Geneva.
Cf. Henig, M. and MacGregor, A., Catalogue of the Engraved Gems and Finger-Rings in the Ashmolean Museum. II. Roman, Oxford, 2004, no. 1.104, for a parallel.
Serapis was a Graeco-Egyptian god, whose cult was popularised during the 3rd century B.C. on the orders of Ptolemy I of Egypt, to facilitate the religious syncretism of his kingdom. During the Roman Empire his image was widely diffused in the east. Usually a third of these gems carry magical words which shows that they were used as amulets or for some other ritual purpose. These magical gems were inscribed with acclamations or prayers that suggest they were used as amulets for protection (in this case of Serapis) or to acquire charm, but only some of them can be linked with some divinatory or prophylactic purpose.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £20
A round lead seal with male portrait, wearing a military mantle fastened on the right side by a fibula, three Latin letters on the left side, possibly 'I A A'. 2.3 grams, 13 mm
Acquired in the 1970s.
Important European collection.
Cf. Beutler, F. et al., Der Adler Roms. Carnuntum und der Armee der Cäsaren, Bad-Deutsch Altenberg, 2017, items 625-630, for type.
Lead seals were used to seal documents. The sealing shows a facing male head with a bearded face, probably the portrait of a Roman emperor or a high imperial functionary, like a Dux or a Praefectus. The hairstyle is that of the Dominate, or late 3rd century AD.
Acquired in the 1970s.
Important European collection.
Cf. Beutler, F. et al., Der Adler Roms. Carnuntum und der Armee der Cäsaren, Bad-Deutsch Altenberg, 2017, items 625-630, for type.
Lead seals were used to seal documents. The sealing shows a facing male head with a bearded face, probably the portrait of a Roman emperor or a high imperial functionary, like a Dux or a Praefectus. The hairstyle is that of the Dominate, or late 3rd century AD.
A mixed group of coarse white wall plaster fragments from a fresco, with painted designs in white, ochre, claret, crimson and blue. 10 kg total, 7.4-12 cmFair condition.
Acquired in the 19th century.
Jeger collection, Switzerland.
Property of an English gentleman.
See Casa Dell’Ara Massima or House of Pinarius or Casa di Narcisso, VI.16.15 Pompeii, excavated 1903.
Acquired in the 19th century.
Jeger collection, Switzerland.
Property of an English gentleman.
See Casa Dell’Ara Massima or House of Pinarius or Casa di Narcisso, VI.16.15 Pompeii, excavated 1903.
An unfinished copper-alloy brooch casting of simple fibula form, with visible seams. 6.1 grams, 44 mm
Acquired in the 1970s.
Important European collection.
Acquired in the 1970s.
Important European collection.
A group of items including coins, weights, thimbles and other artefacts. 700 grams total, 10-52 mm
Found UK.
Ex property of a Nottingham, UK, collector.
Found UK.
Ex property of a Nottingham, UK, collector.
A silver crescentic pendant with a lozenge-shaped cross-section; ribbed tubular suspension loop. 9.44 grams, 39 mm
Acquired before 2000.
From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK.
Acquired before 2000.
From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK.
A silver lunar pendant of crescentic form with integral tubular suspension loop. 4.46 grams, 27 mm
Acquired before 2000.
From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK.
Acquired before 2000.
From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK.
Page 34 of 177
397 - 408 of 2116 LOTS
397 - 408 of 2116 LOTS
