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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Ur III Cuneiform Tablet Fragment Relating to Food Distribution
Late 3rd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £203
A fragment of a pillow-shaped ceramic tablet with neatly impressed columns of cuneiform text, accounting of Ur III food distribution, representing wages. 82 grams, 67 mm
Fine condition.
Ex UK art market, 1970s. Property of a London gentleman. -
Western Asiatic Painted Chalice
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
A ceramic chalice with broad everted rim, painted with groups of dashed lines, chevrons and plain bands of varying width. 260 grams, 11.5 cm wide
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. -
Western Asiatic Bracelet with Beast Head Terminals
1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £78
A penannular, round-section bronze bracelet featuring dragon head terminals with detailing to the facial features. 53 grams, 68 mm wide
Early 1990s London collection. Acquired on the UK art market. From a private collection, Lancashire, UK. -
Western Asiatic Gold with Agate Gemstone Pendant
Late 1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £286
A gold pendant composed of a conical cap with band of raised arches and suspension loop, set with a carnelian stone. 2.51 grams, 21 mm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. -
Luristan Vessel Group
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £91
A group of two copper-alloy vessels or vessel components: a shallow bowl with wedge-shaped handle; a hemispherical bowl or lid with truncated conical terminal or foot. 551 grams total, 11.5 - 17.5 cm
UK collection since the 1990s. Property of a Sussex, UK, teacher. -
Western Asiatic Gold Pendant
1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £156
A gold pendant with tablet-shaped stone body wrapped in a sheet-gold sleeve, granulated bead and suspension loop above, bulbous dangle below. 2.26 grams, 31 mm high
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. -
Western Asiatic Trans Jordan Redware Burnished Jar
Circa 3000 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £72
A bulbous ceramic jar with flared neck flanked by two integral handles, two strips of raised knops to the body; hole near base of one handle. 359 grams, 12 cm high
Acquired 1970s. From an important deceased family collection by descent. -
Western Asiatic Lapis Lazuli Bead Group
1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £59
A string of lapis lazuli beads of various types, including biconical, wheel and tubular types. 3.66 grams, 39 cm long
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. -
Achaemenid Ribbed Phiale Mesomphalos
6th-4th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £457
A copper-alloy bowl with omphalos and fluting. 264 grams, 19 cm wide
Fine condition.
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. -
Sassanian Stamp Seal with Capricorn and Inscription
3rd-7th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £381
A plano-convex rock crystal stamp seal with oblong base, displaying a capricorn advancing left, with Pahlavi script in the field; drilled through the body for suspension; the body of the seal also engraved with circular and lozenge motifs; accompanied by a museum-quality impression. 8.46 grams, 22 mm
Fine condition.
Acquired 1980-2000s. Important collection of a London gentleman. -
Western Asiatic Plaque with Seated Figure
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £195
A clay plaque fragment displaying a stylised incised tree of life and a figure seated right, depicted with pinched head, recessed eye and outstretched arms. 123 grams, 10 cm
Acquired early 1990s. Ex private American collection; thence by descent. Private collection since 1998. -
Western Asiatic Trans-Tigridian Cylinder Seal
Circa 25th-23rd century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £585
A shell cylinder seal with scenes in two registers; accompanied by an old scholarly note, typed and signed by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: 'Cylinder seal of fossil shell, 45 x 17 mm. Two registers: above two seated figures drinking beer from a pot through straw, palm tree terminal. Below: contest scene of hero, two domestic quadrupeds and two lions. trans-Tigridian, c.2500-2300 B.C. Condition fair.' 23.4 grams, 45 mm
From an important family collection. Examined by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert FBA (1926-2011), historian, archaeologist, and specialist in Assyriology and Near Eastern archaeology, in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Accompanied by a typed and signed note by Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993.
'Trans-Tigridian' in this context means 'from across the River Tigris', i.e. from the region between the Tigris and the Zagros mountains, between the Iranian highlands and Mesopotamia.