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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Western Asiatic Terracotta Chalice
1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £46
A terracotta unglazed footed cup with flared base, short stem, carinated shoulder and everted rim. 126 grams, 90 mm high
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. -
Western Asiatic Cuneiform Tablet Fragment Group
2nd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £72
A mixed group of five ceramic tablet fragments, four bearing cuneiform text and/or pictograms to at least one face. 59 grams total, 24-47 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. -
Amlash Handled Jar
1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £279
An unusual ceramic vessel with carinated body, cylindrical neck, everted rim, forked handle with finial at the apex, base composed of six applied pellets and cones, the handle and body decorated with pellets and incised chevrons. 670 grams, 27 cm
Fine condition, handle restored.
Acquired 1970s-2010. Ex important Japanese collection. -
Western Asiatic Idol Collection
1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £351
A group of ceramic idols of anthropomorphic form, stylised incised detailing to the faces and garments. 115 grams total, 50-80 mm
Acquired early 1990s. Ex private American collection; thence by descent. Private collection since 1998. -
Sumerian Figural Plaque
3rd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,143
A rectangular faience plaque bearing figural scene composed of two figures beside a table, a seated figure behind them; pierced twice along one edge. 43.5 grams, 82 mm wide
Fine condition.
Acquired 1970-1999. London collection of the late Mr S.M., thence by descent. -
Western Asiatic Decorated Jar
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £72
A bulbous ceramic jar with short neck, chamfered rim and discoid foot, painted frieze of geometric motifs around the body and shoulder. 851 grams, 17.5 cm high
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. -
Luristan Zoomorphic Bracelet
Circa 8th-6th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £78
A copper-alloy bracelet composed of a round-section hoop and horned animal head terminals. 40 grams, 69 mm
with a London, UK gallery 1971-early 2000s. -
Luristan Mouflon Whetstone Terminal
13th-7th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £279
A copper-alloy whetstone terminal in the form of the head and forequarters of a mouflon, with a cylindrical body, legs tucked beneath its chest, large curved horns creating two closed loops, large pricked ears and stylised facial features. 64 grams, 63 mm wide
Fine condition.
Acquired 1990s. From an important Paris gallery, France. Ex Parisian collection. -
Aramaic Lead Amuletic Sheet with Magical Text
1st-3rd century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £572
A roughly rectangular sheet-lead panel with columns of lightly incised Aramaic text of magical subject matter; the sheet originally rolled tightly. 4.34 grams, 41 mm
Acquired 1969-1999. London collection of the late Mr S.M., thence by descent.
The sheet was possibly meant to be a defixio or curse tablet on which the malediction was recorded and then shut away (by being tightly rolled up), so that the victim could not find or negate it. -
Western Asiatic Bronze Cylinder Seal Pendant
Late 2nd-early 1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
A rare bronze cylinder seal with loop; two registers depicting figures with a wheeled vehicle, domestic animals and other items; possibly from the Bactria-Margiana archaeological complex. 19.2 grams, 26 mm
Acquired 1969-1999. London collection of the late S.M., thence by descent. -
Western Asiatic Gold Pendant
1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £234
A gold pendant composed of a tubular body wrapped around a banded agate or other stone tubular bead, three projections below with conical tops, granulated lozenge to one face enclosing a central dome; ribbed suspension loop. 2.22 grams, 15 mm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. -
Western Asiatic Bronze Bowl
1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £98
A hemispherical bronze bowl with rounded base, convex lip to the inner rim. 218 grams, 13.1 cm
Previously in a private collection since the 1990s. Property of a Sussex, UK, teacher.