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 Enamelled Ring with Fylfot
3rd-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £312
A bronze ring composed of a D-section hoop with overlapping arms, the discoid bezel displaying a fylfot with remains of an enamelled field. 2.17 grams, 22.62 mm overall, 19.94 mm internal diameter (approximate size British Q, USA 8, Europe 17.49, Japan 16)
Private collection formed since the 1940s. UK art market. Property of an Essex gentleman. -
Roman Amber Glass Rod with Gold Loop
1st-2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
An amber-coloured glass rod of tapering round-section form, later gold cap and hoop to top; hollow-formed; iridescence to the surface. 4.26 grams, 15.5 cm
Acquired 1969-1999. London collection of the late Mr S.M., thence by descent. -
Roman Bone Dice Group
1st-3rd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £89
A group of two bone dice: one of tabular form with ring-and-dot markings disposed 1:2, 3:4, 5:6; one cuboid with one damaged face, markings disposed 2:5, 3:4, 6: [1 absent]. 3.79 grams total, 11 mm each
Fine condition; one with damaged face.
Ex UK art market, 1970s. Property of a London gentleman. -
Roman Silver Folding 'Travel' Spoon
Circa 4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £494
A short silver spoon with shallow piriform bowl, raised neck with movable pinned hinge attached to the hexagonal-section handle and shortened polyhedral knob finial, allowing the handle to be folded into the bowl. 28 grams, 11.2 cm long
Early 1990s London collection. Acquired on the UK art market. From a private collection, Lancashire, UK.
As today, the spoon was used as a measure for dosage in ancient times. Both the cochlear and the ligula could have been used to measure different quantities, particularly in the practice of medicine and in the kitchen. Isidore (Origines, XVI, 26.3) tells us that the cochlear was the smallest unit size and was worth half a drachma. -
Roman Decorated Bracelet
Circa 1st-2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £72
A copper-alloy penannular bracelet with rounded terminals, decorated with incised and pierced geometric motifs comprising alternating panels of five piercings with dotted roundels to each, vertical bands creating rectangular panels, populated with pricked dot arches and waves. 23.9 grams, 59 mm
Acquired since the 1970s. Ex property of an Austrian private collector. -
Roman Silver Bow Brooch
3rd-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £91
A silver bow brooch with trapezoidal footplate, a raised triangular plaque to the base of the bow; spring, pin and catchplate to reverse. 9.04 grams, 45 mm
Acquired before 2000. From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK. -
Roman Vine Leaf Mount
1st-2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £39
A bronze mount or harness fitting in the form of a vine leaf displaying simple stylised detailing to the front face, together with a raised perforated lug and scooped plaque above; suspension loop to the reverse. 57 grams, 58 mm
Found Cambridgeshire in the 1990s. -
Roman Plate Brooch Collection
1st-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £338
A group of four bronze plate brooches: a horse walking left on a corded groundline, pin lug, pin and catchplate to reverse; a lioness in a stalking posture standing on a groundline, with incised face and mane detailing; pin lug to reverse; a hare bounding right with two recessed panels to the body also in the form of hares, pin lug, pin and catchplate to reverse; whorl brooch with central ring-and-dot ornament with four arms radiating outwards, each with a beast-head terminal, pin lug and catchplate to reverse. 41.3 grams total, 21-36 mm
Acquired before 2000. From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK. -
Byzantine Animal-Headed Lamp
6th-7th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £89
A slipper-shaped ceramic oil lamp with integral handle with animal head terminal, sub-circular filling hole, radiating raised lines to the shoulder; shallow basal ring. 91 grams, 92 mm
Fine condition.
Acquired 1979-1999. London collection of the late Mr S.M., thence by descent. -
Byzantine Black Glass Necklace with Cross
6th-8th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £85
A restrung necklace composed of small black glass and stone beads of a variety of types, together with a central cross pendant with ring and dot motifs representing the Five Wounds of Christ. 7.68 grams, 46 cm long
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. -
Byzantine Silver Ring with Saltire Cross
Circa 15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £104
A silver ring composed of a slender round-section hoop supporting a quatrefoil plaque with saltire cross engraved within a square at centre, diagonal hatching to each of the four lobes. 3.82 grams, 22.44 mm overall, 18.50 mm internal diameter (approximate size British P, USA 7 1/2, Europe 16.23, Japan 15)
Acquired in the late 1990s-2000. Property of an East London gentleman. -
Byzantine Trade Weight Collection
Circa 10th-14th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £33
A mixed group of bronze trade weights of various shapes and sizes, including examples bearing letters or cruciform designs. 92 grams total, 10-31 mm
German art market, 1990s. Mr A.H., a North American collector living in the UK.