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 capsule-shaped openwork gold pendant decorated with vertical columns of filigree figures of eight between beaded tracks, domed cap to each terminal formed as four-petalled flowers with central pellet; two ribbed suspension loops with apex granules. 2.25 grams, 18 mm



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

A ceramic vessel with a piriform body and domed mouth on a stepped neck; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 642 grams, 12.7 cm



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. Accompanied by an academic paper by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato, dated 15 July 2019 and titled 'Eastern Roman Empire - Greek Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade (μεσαίον kακάβιον) 9th-11th century AD'.

Apart from the use of siphons or manual flame-throwers called cheirosiphona, special corps of Roman soldiers employed terracotta grenades, in the form of small jars, abundantly evidenced in archaeological excavations. Such were the γανωτα, vessels (sometimes also of bronze) used for Greek fire. They were called μεσαία kακαβιά or κυτροκακάβια where the former had a bulbous shape and the latter a more cylindrical form.

A gilt strap distributor with crescentic motif adorned with foliage in relief, pierced foliate panel to centre. 20.4 grams, 31 mm



UK private collection before 2000. UK art market. Property of a London gentleman.

A sheet-gold crescent moon pendant with applied twisted filigree to the border, cell with inset carnelian cloison, suspension loop. 0.52 grams, 12 mm



Acquired 1970-2010. Collection of a late Japanese gentleman.

A ceramic vessel with a piriform body and domed mouth, stepped rings to the foot; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 507 grams, 15 cm



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. Accompanied by an academic paper by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato, dated 15 July 2019 and titled 'Eastern Roman Empire - Greek Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade (μεσαίον kακάβιον) 9th-11th century AD'.

Apart from the use of siphons or manual flame-throwers called cheirosiphona, special corps of Roman soldiers employed terracotta grenades, in the form of small jars, abundantly evidenced in archaeological excavations. Such were the γανωτα, vessels (sometimes also of bronze) used for Greek fire. They were called μεσαία kακαβιά or κυτροκακάβια where the former had a bulbous shape and the latter a more cylindrical form.

A bronze enkolpion reliquary pendant with hinged body; suspension loop with ropework median panel, hollow body with obverse: nimbate Christ holding a book and legend 'ICXC / NHKA'; reverse: Mary Theotokos and infant Jesus and legend 'MΘΥ / ICXC'. 34.4 grams, 79 mm



Acquired in the late 1990s-2000. Property of an East London gentleman.

A slender bracelet with D-section hoop and overlapping terminals, central cross with the five wounds of Christ represented as a shallow dimple to each arm and central silver circular boss, vertical ribs and dimples to the shoulders, waisted terminals decorated with vertical grooves and dot-in-ring motifs. 15.07 grams, 66 mm

Fine condition.

Acquired Munich, Germany, late 1990s. Property of an East London gentleman.

A gold finger ring with slender hoop and oblate red glass bead. 1.13 grams, 22.25 mm overall, 15.68 mm internal diameter (approximate size British I 1/2, USA 4 1/2, Europe 8.07, Japan 7)



Acquired 1980-2010. Collection of a late Japanese gentleman.

A bronze square tabular weight with silver inlay; inscribed arch with rosettes above the corners, spiral columns and pointillé detailing; silver-inlaid cross flaked by 'Γ Γ' for a quadrans (3 oz). 80 grams, 37 mm



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

A silver ring composed of a slender hoop decorated with raised chevrons, supporting a quatrefoil bezel displaying a Christian cross composed of shallow dimples, enclosed by a dimpled border tracing the four surrounding lobes. 3.56 grams, 21.53 mm overall, 18.09 mm internal diameter (approximate size British N 1/2, USA 6 3/4, Europe 14.35, Japan 13)



English collection formed in the 1990s. UK art market. Property of an Essex gentleman.

A group of two ceramic artefacts: an Ur miniature pot of carinated form with everted lip, dated c.2000 B.C.; a roughly rectangular tablet bearing cuneiform text to both principal faces and to each side edge, a memo relating to an expenditure of beer for mercenaries in garrison in the service of Babylon (20th year Abi-ešuh 1711-1684 BC): '2 jars of 15 liters for the rations of the troop of the Cassites. Contribution of Ibnatum.' 100 grams total, 36-43 mm



From an old UK collection. From the private collection of Alf Baxendale (1941-2016) part 2, keen Egyptologist, member of the Egyptology Society, trustee of the Amarna Trust; thence by descent. Accompanied by two identification display cards. Accompanied by a copy of his obituary published in Horizon, The Amarna Project and Amarna Trust newsletter, Issue 18, 2017, p.21, by Barry John Kemp, CBE, FBA, Professor Emeritus of Egyptology at the University of Cambridge and directing excavations at Amarna in Egypt.

A copper-alloy finger ring with roughly rectangular-section hoop expanding at the shoulders and bezel, engraved with a central stylised tree flanked by bounding quadrupeds. 22.52 grams, 23.65 mm overall, 16.46 mm internal diameter (approximate size British J 1/2, USA 5, Europe 9.32, Japan 9)



Early 1990s London collection. Acquired on the UK art market. From a private collection, Lancashire, UK.