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 Military Compass and Tweezers Multi-Tool
Circa late 2nd-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £260
A bronze multi-tool featuring a compass and tweezers, free-moving collar to one arm, one arm with two oval terminals and one tapering to a point. 19 grams, 90 mm
Acquired before 2000. From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK.
This instrument, a type of circinus formed of two flat-section arms, was widely used by masons and carpenters, as well as for making wall decorations for the preparation of repetitive elements such as spirals or circles. It was widely used by the agrimensores of the army, as is proven by a very similar specimen found in Carnuntum, the camp of the Legio XIIII Gemina. -
Roman Asclepius Gemstone in Gold Ring
2nd-3rd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £910
A carnelian intaglio of Asclepius in a loosely draped himation with serpent coiled around his forearm, probably Asclepius the Greek god of healing; set into a later gold ring. 4.99 grams, 23.32 mm overall, 16.68 mm internal diameter (approximate size British L 1/2, USA 6, Europe 11.87, Japan 11)
Ex private East Coast, USA, collection. with Artemis Gallery, Colorado, USA, 21 February 2017. English private collection. Accompanied by a copy of a certificate of authenticity from Artemis Gallery, dated 21 February 2017.
Asclepius was the Graeco-Roman god of medicine, healing, prophecy and a son of Apollo and Coronis. He had two daughters with Epione, the goddess of soothing- Hygeia (goddess of health) and Panacea (goddess of healing). As a child, Asclepius was given to the centaur Chiron, who raised him in the ways of the healing arts. During his training, Asclepius healed a snake, which in turn granted him secret knowledge. Asclepius became such a proficient healer that he discovered a way to resurrect the dead, for which Zeus had him killed, in order to maintain the balance of life on Earth, placing him on the night sky under the constellation of the Ophiuchus (the snake holder). -
Roman Schist Dolphin
1st-2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £130
A carved schist dolphin figure with stylised detailing to the fins and face; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 30 grams total, 59 mm long (58 mm high including stand)
Fine condition.
Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector. London collection, 2016.
The dolphin was among the animals sacred to Aphrodite, but in Graeco-Roman mythology it was also considered to be the animal accompanying the souls of the dead into the afterlife. -
Roman Double-Handled Unguentarium
1st-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £338
An aqua glass unguentarium or double cosmetic tube of tubular form with rolled rim, two twin-looped applied handles; iridescent surfaces. 41 grams, 10.1 cm high
Acquired early 1990s. Ex private American collection; thence by descent. Private collection since 1998. -
Roman Tragic Mask Applique
1st century A.D. or laterSold for (Inc. bp): £130
A rectangular slate mount showing the head of a tragic mask with angular eyes, straight nose and a clownish, down-turned mouth. 3 grams, 16.2 mm
Very fine condition.
Acquired from Galerie Jean Phillipe Mariaud de Serres, 1990-2000. Property of a French collector.
Small appliqués like this one were common in Roman furniture. In the Graeco-Roman world, comic and tragic masks played an important role in Greek drama, commonly performed in the Roman Empire. The actors had the ability to easily play more than one character in succession with a simple change of masks, and the characters of the masks became popular objects in the material culture. -
Roman and Later Ring Collection
1st-19th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £312
A mixed group of 20 copper-alloy rings of various types and sizes, including examples with glass cabochons, incised geometric motifs to the bezels, cruciform motifs, tiered bezels and other types. 59 grams total, 15-24 mm
Acquired before 2000. From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK. -
Roman Ring with Julius Caesar Intaglio
1st century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £234
A copper-alloy finger ring with an oval-shaped bezel, set with a glass intaglio with profile bust left, probably Julius Caesar. 1.71 grams, 21.79 mm overall, 17.31 mm internal diameter (approximate size British L 1/2, USA 6, Europe 11.87, Japan 11)
Acquired in the 1970s. Important European collection. -
Roman Silver Ring with Radiating Sun
Mid 3rd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £221
A silver finger ring with gusseted panels to the equator, facetted shoulders, stepped hexagonal bezel with incuse sunburst motif. 4.61 grams, 23.30 mm overall, 18.60 mm internal diameter (approximate size British Q 1/2, USA 8 1/4, Europe 18.12, Japan 17)
Acquired in the 1980s. Ex North West London collection. English private collection. -
Roman to Civil War Artefact Group
1st-17th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £26
A group of detector finds including lead trade weights, thimbles, buckles, seals, buttons and other items. 1.87 kg total, 19-78 mm
Found UK. Ex property of a Nottingham, UK, collector. -
Roman Phallic Pendant with Loops
Circa 1st century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £260
A bronze horse harness pendant composed of three concentric circles surmounted by a bearded figure to which is attached a suspension ring, the body of the figure engraved and ending with phallic attributes. 52.4 grams, 83 mm
Acquired before 2000. From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK.
Roman military harness included pendants of various typology, ranging from lunules to other decorative elements, often phallic, with the possible intention of protecting the animal. This particular pendant could be connected to the bearded image of the god Priapus. -
Roman Decorated Bracelet
Circa 1st-2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £156
A copper-alloy bracelet formed as a penannular hoop with rounded terminals, the exterior face divided into rectangular segments, each decorated with one of various repeating decorative schemes: five recessed dots with pricked dotted borders; dotted arcs and lines; horizontal cluster of three recessed dots with dotted chevrons above and below; slender vertical panels with central dotted columns. 24.5 grams, 65 mm
Acquired since the 1970s. Ex property of an Austrian private collector. -
Roman Artefact Group
1st-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £52
A group of bronze artefacts comprising: two pommel or box mounts with concentric decoration, a section of a twisted wire bracelet, a dress pin, nice bow brooch fragments, a 4th century coin and a implement handle. 123 grams total, 13-82 mm
Found Rodings, Essex, UK. Acquired on the UK antiques market between 1974-1985. Albert Ward collection, Essex, UK.