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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Central Asian Seal Pendant with Horned Quadruped
23rd-20th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £156
A bronze compartmented stamp seal pendant in the form of a horned quadruped, with suspension loop to reverse; accompanied by a typed and signed scholarly note by W.G. Lambert, the late Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: '...This has the shape of what is depicted: a standing horned quadruped looking upwards. The face is flat and compartmented. The back is also flat and has a loop handle with two grooves over it. This comes from west central Asia and dates to c.2300-2000 B.C. It is in very good condition and the metal has been conserved.' 11 grams, 38 mm
1980s-early 1990s collection, UK. Accompanied by an original typed and signed scholarly note issued by the late Professor W.G. Lambert. -
Large Western Asiatic Decorated Bowl
Circa 12th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £89
A Ghaznavid style squat bowl with convex wall and rounded base, worn remains of punched ring-and-dot decoration to the exterior. 741 grams, 25 cm wide
Fine condition.
English collection formed in the 1990s. UK art market. Property of an Essex gentleman. -
Western Asiatic Pendant Pair
Mid 1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £20
A pair of heavy copper-alloy pendants formed as large pyramid clusters with protrusions to the bulbs, bulbous suspension loop above. 180 grams total, 49-53 mm
Early 1990s London collection. Acquired on the UK art market. From a private collection, Lancashire, UK. -
Mesopotamian Cylinder Seal with Walking Women
4th-3rd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £494
A drum-shaped stone cylinder seal with figural frieze; 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 red stone, 18 x 20 mm. Frieze of four walking women holding standards. Mesopotamia, c.3000 B.C. Condition fine.' 13.7 grams, 18 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 an old scholarly note, typed and signed by W.G. Lambert, late Professor of Assyriology, University of Birmingham, 1970-1993. -
Kingdom of Larsa Cuneiform Tablet Estimating a Quantity of Beer
Circa 1800-1750 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £364
The majority of a pillow-shaped clay tablet, bearing cuneiform text to the upper part of one face and top edge, together with rulings(?) for additional text, a summary table relating to a distribution of consumables; Kingdom of Larsa, a note indicates in which unit of measurement the quantity of beer was estimated. 100 grams, 68 mm
Specialised collection of cuneiform texts, the property of a London gentleman and housed in London before 1992. Thence by descent to family members. 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. This small collection is exceptional for the variety of types, including some very rare and well preserved examples. -
Urartu Vessel with Birds
Circa 7th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,080
A copper-alloy vessel with tapering walls and everted rim, two raised circumferential ribs framing a frieze of engraved stylised birds standing right beneath arcades. 334 grams, 15 cm wide
Fine condition.
Acquired before 1983. Ex London gallery, 1990s. -
Western Asiatic Painted Vessel with Zebu
1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £169
A piriform ceramic vessel with short neck and inverted rim, painted with hatched triangles over a frieze of processing zebu bulls with solid circles in the field. 380 grams, 20 cm high
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. -
Luristan Lion Head Attachment
13th-7th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £33
A bronze attachment with a curved, round-section body, an incomplete hoop to one arm and a lion-head terminal to the other, with a collar and stylised detailing to mane and face. 32.7 grams, 49 mm wide
Fine condition.
Ex private family collection formed in London, mid 1980s to early 1990s. -
Central Asian Compartmented Seal Pendant with Bovine
23rd-20th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £208
A bronze compartmented stamp seal in the form of a stylised bovine, suspension loop to reverse; accompanied by a typed and signed scholarly note by W.G. Lambert, the late Professor of Assyriology at the University of Birmingham, 1970-1993, which states: '...This is a compartmented seal, not openwork, with a stout suspension loop on the back. The shape is that of a bovine with short curly tail, heavy body, thick neck and only a very slight hump. For practical reasons there are only the shortest of horns, where, as with the feet, the ridge around the edges of the seal is not continued. This comes from west central Asia, and dates to c.2300-2000 B.C. It is a very rare piece of great merit.' 22 grams, 52 mm
1980s-early 1990s collection, UK. Accompanied by an original typed and signed scholarly note issued by the late Professor W.G. Lambert. -
Western Asiatic Silver RepoussÉ Mount with Lion Attacking an Antelope
Circa 1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £16
A domed silver mount displaying a repoussé scene composed of a lion and antelope in combat. 6.13 grams, 42 mm
Essex gallery, early 2000s. -
Western Asiatic Vessel with Eyes
1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £52
A bulbous ceramic vessel painted with a frieze of 'eye' motifs between parallel bands. 242 grams, 10 cm wide
Acquired 1990s. English private collection. Property of an Essex gentleman. -
Western Asiatic Painted Terracotta Vase with Birds
3rd-2nd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £72
A terracotta vase with bulbous body, small disc base, trumpet-shaped mouth; bands of painted rings to the neck, frieze of birds and leaves to the shoulder, rim chipped. 285 grams, 13.5 cm high
Fine condition.
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.