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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Late Roman Silver Ring with Cross
4th-5th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £286
A silver ring with carinated hoop, shaped shoulders, discoid bezel engraved with a Chi Rho cross within a dashed roundel. 5.33 grams, 24.90 mm overall, 18.81 mm internal diameter (approximate size British J, USA 4 3/4, Europe 8.69, Japan 8)
Acquired before 2000. From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK. -
Roman Marble Fragment Group
1st-2nd century A.D. or laterSold for (Inc. bp): £91
A group of five white marble human limb fragments with simple anatomical detailing: a left hand holding an enigmatic object; a left arm and hand with the remains of the fingers held open; a right leg with ankle and remains of the foot; a right arm and hand modelled held palm-downwards; a right hand modelled with fingers extended, remains of iron rod. 975 grams total, 9.8-12 cm
New York art market, 1992. -
Roman Bone Spoon
1st-2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £78
A bone spoon with a shallow piriform bowl and tapering round-section stem, two concentric V-shaped channels to the bowl reverse; tip of stem lost in antiquity. 5.96 grams, 10.6 cm
Acquired 1969-1999. London collection of the late Mr S.M., thence by descent. -
Roman Silver Openwork Lunar Pendant
2nd-3rd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £143
A silver lunula pendant composed of a crescentic body straddled by a slender silver wire X-motif embellished with granules; ribbed suspension loop. 3.77 grams, 29 mm
Acquired before 2000. From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK. -
Roman Polychrome Tesserae Group
1st-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £143
A mixed group of over 100 single stone tesserae of various colours and sizes. 70 grams total, 5-14 mm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. -
Roman Belt Mount with Chi Rho
Circa 3rd-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £156
A bronze pentagonal mount with scooped edges, four piercings to accept fixing rivets, hatched band enclosing an incuse Chi Rho christogram. 25.9 grams, 55 mm
Acquired in the late 1990s-2000. Property of an East London gentleman. -
Roman Zeus Statuette Hand Holding Thunderbolt
3rd-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £59
A bronze right forearm and hand gripping a thunderbolt, from a larger statuette, likely of the god Zeus. 10 grams, 34 mm
Acquired in the late 1990s-2000. Property of an East London gentleman. -
Roman Phallic Pendant
2nd-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £130
A copper-alloy phallic pendant with stylised anatomical detailing, integral suspension loop above. 11.4 grams, 37 mm
Acquired before 2000. From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK. -
Roman Glass Bead Collection
1st century B.C.-1st century A.D. and laterSold for (Inc. bp): £234
A group of eight individually decorated coloured glass beads with swirled, folded, trail-decorated and combed decoration. 25 grams total, 12-22 mm
Acquired 1980s-1990s. H.N.collection, Milton Keynes, Bedfordshire, UK. -
Roman Military Baldric Fitting
3rd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £72
A copper-alloy military baldric phalera of crescentic form, with scrolled terminals and openwork centre; remains of mounting lugs to reverse. 25.2 grams, 75 mm
Acquired before 2000. From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK. -
Roman and Later Artefact Group
2nd century A.D. and laterSold for (Inc. bp): £33
A mixed group comprising: a bone dolphin with slot to the raised; the tip of a bronze hair-pin; and two later glass beads. 11.56 grams total, 12-38 mm
Acquired in the late 1990s-2000. Property of an East London gentleman. -
Roman Lead Tag with Seal Impressions
1st-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £7
A lead seal tag bearing two oval-shaped impressions containing figural motifs: the smaller impression possibly a standing winged figure facing right; the larger impression portraying a standing figure holding an object. 15.19 grams, 36 mm
Acquired in the 1970s. Important European collection.