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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Framed Indo-Persian Watercolour Painting
20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £89
A watercolour painting showing three figures in a landscape, birds in the sky and on the hills beyond, one seated figure weeping, one turning towards him possibly to offer consolation, the third standing, holding a bottle; set in a reveal within a glazed wooden frame. 622 grams, 36.5 x 25.5 cm
Fine condition.
Acquired on the UK art market, 1980s-1990s. The Woodbridge collection of Indo-Persian art. -
Western Asiatic Pottery Vessel Group
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £143
A group of eight ceramic vessels, mainly comprising jars of various forms, most painted with geometric motifs. 2.35 kg total, 9.5-15.5 cm wide
Acquired 1970-2010. Collection of a late Japanese gentleman. -
Bronze Age Bowl
1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
A ceramic bowl of conical form, shallow foot and slightly inverted rim. 1.36 kg, 29.5 cm wide
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. -
Western Asiatic Implement Group
Late 1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £46
A trio of copper-alloy and iron implements: a tapering round-section needle with pierced head; a tanged knife blade with one cutting edge; a tanged knife blade with one cutting edge and curved pointed end. 44 grams total, 9.6 - 14.3 cm
Early 1990s London collection. Acquired on the UK art market. From a private collection, Lancashire, UK. -
Phoenicio-Babylonian Frog Shekel Weight
Circa 7th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £650
A haematite shekel standard weight in frog form; chipped. 8.4 grams, 21 mm
Acquired 1969-1999. London collection of the late Mr S.M., thence by descent. -
Amlash Figure of Fertility
Circa 13th-12th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £635
A copper-alloy fertility figure with openwork decoration, loop arms suspending pendants formed as slender figurative horned animals; suspension loop to reverse and cage-style torso; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. 47 grams, 91 mm (78 grams total, 10 cm including stand)
Fine condition.
Acquired before 1983.mj Ex London gallery, 1990s. -
Western Asiatic Spouted Jar with Birds
3rd-2nd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £432
A ceramic jar with drum-shaped body, short spout to the shoulder, trumpet-shaped mouth with ribbed band, strap handles to the rear; painted circumferential bands with hatched birds and other details. 2.57 kg, 26 cm high
Fine condition.
Acquired 1970s-1990s. Ex Pars Gallery, Mayfair, London, UK. From a specialist collection of pottery. -
Ur III Cuneiform Tablet Fragment, a Note on a Quantity of Barley
2nd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £130
A clay tablet bearing cuneiform text to one face, roughly lentoid in cross-section, a note on a quantity of barley, possibly Paleo-Babylonian. 23 grams, 39 mm
Acquired in the 1980s. From the collection of a West London, UK, gentleman. -
Lead Pyramidal Weight with Characters
Circa 2nd-3rd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
A pyramidal lead weight or stamp seal, pierced through the flat top edge; base displaying monogram characters in relief, possibly 'LAVT AVo'. 172 grams, 50 mm
Acquired 1969-1999. London collection of the late Mr S.M., thence by descent. -
Western Asiatic Decorated Bone Handle
Circa mid 1st millennium A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £52
A carved bone finial for a knife or other utensil, a lozengiform head with shaped flourishes to three sides, neck of oval cross-section, bifacial geometric decoration composed of ring-and-dot motifs and hatching; green colouration. 13.7 grams, 61 mm
Acquired 1990s. Ex French collection. -
Western Asiatic Gold Ring with Bust within Grapes and Symbols
1st-2nd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,794
A gold finger ring with hollow D-section hoop and oval bezel, set with a later oval-shaped agate intaglio bearing a bust surrounded by a vine of grapes, enigmatic motifs or symbols around. 8.03 grams, 26.73 mm overall, 16.61 mm internal diameter ( approximate size British G 1/2, USA 3 1/2, Europe 5.55, Japan 5)
Fine condition.
Acquired 1970-1999. Property of a late Mayfair, London gentleman, by descent. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11344-190311. -
Western Asiatic Terracotta Flagon
2nd-3rd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £195
An ovoid ceramic flagon with waisted neck, rolled rim and integral oval-section handle. 1.74 kg, 31 cm high
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.