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 and Other Bead Necklace
6th-4th century B.C. and laterSold for (Inc. bp): £39
A restrung group of mainly glass and faience beads of various types, sizes and dates, including tubular, facetted, spherical, coin, biconical and other types, in various shades of green. 10.5 grams, 70.5 cm long
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. -
Roman Stucco Torso of an Athlete
Provincial, 2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £624
A stucco muscular torso from a cornice modelled in the half-round; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 3.05 kg total, 21.2 cm high (31 cm including stand)
Fair condition.
Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector. London collection, 2016. -
Roman Statuette Base
1st-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £143
A copper-alloy statuette base formed with a waisted edge and circular upper and lower faces, the lower with a greater circumference than the upper. 86 grams, 53 mm
Essex gallery, early 2000s. -
Roman and Other Ring Collection
Early 1st millennium A.D. and laterSold for (Inc. bp): £338
A mixed group of copper-alloy finger rings of various types, each bearing an incuse design to the bezel: a stylised bird; a cross; a stylised fish; a geometric motif and possible horse and rider. 25 grams total, 20-25 mm
Early 1990s London collection. Acquired on the UK art market. From a private collection, Lancashire, UK. -
Roman 'Thames' Samian Ware Stamped Fragment Group
1st-2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £104
A group of six Samian ware vessel bases labelled 'a-f', each stamped to the interior base; accompanied by an information sheet identifying the relevant workshop and approximate date: 'a. COSRVF Cosivs and Rufinus South Gaul late 1st century; b.Caddiron Caddiron Langres ?; c. BALBINVS F Balbinus (Fecit) Lubie early 2nd century; d.TITVRONIS O Tituro (officina workshop) Central Gaul early 2nd century; e. ALBVS F Albus Central Gaul early 2nd century; f. ]IVCVN ?'. 328 grams total, 4.2-13.7 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 typed original identification document from the Museum of London dated 29th August 1984. -
Roman Silver Bow Brooch
3rd-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £143
A silver bow brooch decorated with punched interlocking triangles to the bow and footplate; pin in catchplate to reverse. 6.7 grams, 47 mm
Acquired before 2000. From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK. -
Roman Phallic Pendant
1st-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £72
A bronze pendant or other item, formed as a four-legged animal with a phallic head. 2.29 grams, 22.3 mm
Acquired in the 1990s. UK private collection. Property of a Sussex, UK, teacher. -
Roman and Other Artefact Group
Circa 2nd-3rd century A.D. and laterSold for (Inc. bp): £78
A pair of decorative artefacts comprising: a gold flat-section openwork disc with filigree annulets and pellets; a domed silver-gilt 'stud' with striptwist borders and pellet granules, set with a possible garnet stone at the apex. 4.37 grams total, 14 mm each
Essex gallery, early 2000s. -
Roman and Other Bead Necklace
1st century A.D. and laterSold for (Inc. bp): £33
A restrung necklace composed mainly of graduated blue glass beads of various shades, dates and types. 1.38 grams, 83 cm long
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. -
Roman Tile Fragment Group with Military Stamps
1st-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £59
A group of six ceramic tile fragments, each bearing a stamp. 3.3 kg total, 10.5-22.2 cm
Previously in a private collection since the 1990s. Property of a Sussex, UK, teacher. -
Roman Gold Pendant with Pearl
Circa 5th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £176
A discoid gold pendant jewel displaying a polished garnet insert at the centre of a pellet roundel, eight pearl beads mounted on spokes radiating from the circumference; squashed suspension loop to reverse. 2.04 grams, 17 mm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. -
Roman Silver Ring with Goddess Gemstone
2nd-3rd century A.D. or laterSold for (Inc. bp): £390
A silver ring composed of a convex ellipsoid hoop, expanding at the shoulders to a raised oval bezel with collar, set with a green jasper intaglio gemstone engraved with the image of a goddess, carrying a staff and a laurel crown. 8.43 grams, 23.53 mm overall, 19.80 mm internal diameter (approximate size British M 1/2, USA 6 1/4, Europe 13.09, Japan 12)
Acquired in the late 1990s-2000. Property of an East London gentleman.
The ring presents similarities with the type II, variant 1 of the Ruseva-Slokoska classification. Many rings with images of divinities were found by the archaeologists as votive offerings to the divinities engraved on the bezel. It is difficult to interpret which divinity is represented in this ring, but the sceptre and the laurel crown could hint at it being Hera or Juno.