A red glass insert of a profile face with remains of a pharaonic crown to the forehead.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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]'.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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').

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.

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.

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'.

A silvered bronze finger ring with stepped shoulders, large ellipsoid bezel with incuse ropework border and stylised figure raising a fish. 6.43 grams, 24.13 mm overall, 17.48 mm internal diameter (approximate size British O, USA 7, Europe 14.98, Japan 14)

Fine condition.

with M. Labarbe, Toulouse, France, 27 November 2011, lot 228. Property of a London gentleman

A bronze herm lock element representing the god Hermes, with a stylised and beardless face, long hair descending with two parallel lines on the chest with engraved stylised caduceus, finial with a plinth and a squared pin to the reverse. 110 grams, 16 cm



Acquired before 2000. From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK.

This miniature herm, with a stylised caduceus engraved on the breast, possibly represents the god Hermes. It could have been used as a lock for a casket or a box where money was kept. Hermes was the protector of homes, symbolised by the Herma (from Hermes), a square or rectangular pillar of stone or bronze topped by a bust of the god.

A group of five copper-alloy animal brooches, comprising: a peacock with feather and head detailing; leaping hound in profile right; openwork horse standing right, pin lug and pin to reverse; frog with large circular eyes, pin lug, pin and catchplate to reverse; lion running right with remaining enamel detailing, pin lug, pin and catchplate to reverse. 36 grams total, 34-43 mm



Acquired before 2000. From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK.

A stucco head from a cornice modelled in the half-round as a mature male with full beard and short, tufted head of hair; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 623 grams total, 12.8 cm (16.5 cm high including stand)

Fair condition.

Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector. London collection, 2016.

A pair of bifacial bronze military diploma fragments bearing Latin text: fragment A, side 1: 'CAEL[IBES] / DVM [TAXAT]'; side 2: 'NI[- - -] MAX'; fragment B, side 1: 'RNESE / CVS'; side 2: 'AL[- - - / - - -] LL'. 7.13 grams total, 21-32 mm



Acquired before 2000. From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK.

Stylistically, the diploma seems connected with the empire of Hadrian, based in style used in letters M and A. The text of the extrinsecus can be partially reconstructed in the sentences ANTO{NI}NUS AVGVSTVS PONTIFEX {MAX}IMUS... AVT SIQUI {CAEL}IBES ESSENT CUM IIS QUAS POSTEA DUXISSENT {DUM}TAXAT SINGULI SINGULAS (...if they were in celibate then, to the maximum limit of only one (wife) for each...). The diploma gives 'HONESTA MISSIO' (honourable discharge) and Roman citizenship to the veterans of an unknown unit, also granting them permission to marry. The text of the internal side (intus) should report the dating, and the names of the soldiers and witnesses.

A bronze discoid bulla, cut from a larger bronze plaque in antiquity with fragments of Greek inscription; Side A: 'ΦΛΑ [..]/ΟΥΙΑC/ YΟΠΠΗC[..]'; Side B: '[..]N[..]ENΤΙΟΥ/EΠΙCΚOΠΟΥ'. 165 grams, 58 mm



Acquired 1969-1999. London collection of the late S.M., thence by descent.

The bulla probably belonged to a bishop, probably to a certain Vinkentios (N[..]ENΤΙΟΥ/EΠΙCΚOΠΟΥ = of Vincentius Bishop) and as well as a woman named Flavia from Joppa (ΦΛΑ [..]/ΟΥΙΑC/ YΟΠΠΗC), probably his servant. It could have been used as a weight or as a personal sign to fulfil various activities in the name of the owner.

A mixed group of copper-alloy finger rings of various types and sizes, including examples with incised geometric motifs, stars, plants, ring-and-dot motifs. 76 grams total, 17-24 mm



Acquired before 2000. From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK.

A bronze tankard handle terminating in a male mask shown with an open mouth and wild hair, degenerate foliate detailing to the stem. 94 grams, 10.8 cm



Acquired early 2000s. Property of a Birmingham, UK, collector. Property of an Essex, UK, gentleman.

A bone astragalus gaming piece with flattened base and upper face, from the game of 'knuckle bones'. 9.7 grams, 33 mm

Fine condition.

Ex UK art market, 1970s. Property of a London gentleman.

An iron knife with curved blade and one cutting edge, with bronze handle decorated with incised X-motifs and dashes to both faces; pierced finial. 49 grams, 17 cm long



Acquired before 2000. From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK.

A mixed group of artefacts comprising: fragments of a ceramic bowl; a Roman seal-box base; a zoomorphic footplate from an Anglian cruciform brooch; a gun flint. 126 grams total, 24-87 mm



Essex gallery, early 2000s.

A zoomorphic copper-alloy ring composed of a slender, square-section coiled body with one tapering terminal and one terminal formed as a stylised snake's head with simple punched detailing. 2.40 grams, 24.19 mm overall, 19.91 mm internal diameter (approximate size British R, USA 8 1/2, Europe 18 3/4, Japan 18)



Acquired before 2000. From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK.