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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Sumerian Jemdet Nasr Period Animal Amulet
3rd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £279
A carved jasper amuletic pendant of a calf with a band and supporting loop to its middle, sockets for insertion of separate eyes. 18.11 grams, 43 mm
Fine condition, loop broken.
Acquired 1980-2000s. Important collection of a London gentleman. -
Western Asiatic Biconvex Painted Jar
4th-3rd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £65
A squat ceramic biconical pot with basal ring and slightly everted rim, bands of painted geometric designs to the upper face. 248 grams, 11.8 cm wide
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. -
Bactrian Alabaster Offering Cup
2nd-1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £94
A spool-shaped alabaster offering cup with shallow bowl, veins in the stone. 1.68 kg, 13 cm high
Acquired 1990s. English private collection. Property of an Essex gentleman. -
Cuneiform Tablet Fragment of a Divinatory Treaty Predicting the Peril of the Enemy Army
Circa 1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £364
A ceramic tablet fragment bearing dense cuneiform text to one face; held in a membranous frame, a divinatory treaty with observations on different configurations of the liver of a sheep (?) and their apodosis, that is to say the prediction for each case: the theme of 'the peril of the enemy army' is recurrent. 32 grams total, 70 x 70 mm including case
Ex 1970s collection. Property of a North London gentleman. -
Western Asiatic Gold and Garnet Pendant
Late 1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £221
A gold pendant with openwork filigree cell set with a capsule-shaped polished garnet, the pendant body with ribbed cylindrical neck and bulbous openwork loop embellished with granulated collars, pyramid granule finial. 1.74 grams, 21 mm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. -
Western Asiatic Ceramic Vessel Collection
1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £390
A mixed group of ceramic vessels of various types, including jars and bowls, including examples painted with geometric motifs. 1.8 kg total , 8.6-15.1 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. -
Western Asiatic Mixed Bead Group
Circa 1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
A mixed group of mainly drawn opaque coloured glass beads. 122 grams total, 2-12 mm
Acquired 1970-2010. Collection of a late Japanese gentleman. -
Luristan Decorated Pin Pair
13th-6th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £59
A pair of bronze pins composed of tapering round-section stems with ribbed upper bodies and domed heads; pierced. 111 grams total, 22-23.5 cm
UK private collection before 2000. UK art market. Property of a London gentleman. -
Western Asiatic Terracotta House with Inhabitants
20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £91
A terracotta diorama comprising a Middle Eastern conical hut or dwelling with arched frame around the D-shaped entrance; two figures placed beside the doorway: to the left a tall slender with luxuriant curls male wearing a textured shirt (mailcoat?) and ruched trousers, barefoot, resting his head on the frame; to the right a shorter bearded male waring a cloak and quilted tunic and trousers. 9.1 kg, 27 cm
Acquired 1970-1999. Ex collection of deceased Mayfair gentleman. -
Western Asiatic Style Artefact Collection
20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £111
A group of three stone artefacts in ancient style: a haematite cylinder seal accompanied by an impression; penannular metallic bracelet with ram's head terminals and filigree ornament; an alabaster pot of tapering cylindrical form, frieze of birds advancing right engraved around the circumference. 344 grams total, 1.4-10.2 cm
German collection formed before 2000. Ex private European collection. -
Sassanian Stamp Seal Collection
3rd-4th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £312
A group of four plano-convex stone stamp seals, each drilled for suspension and bearing an incuse design to base: a quadruped; cockerel with scorpion; ritual symbols; accompanied by a museum-quality impression of each seal. 26 grams total, 15-22 mm
From a UK private collection, 1980-1983. -
Western Asiatic Mixed Bead Group
Circa 1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £124
A mixed group of mainly glass, shell and stone beads of oblate and annular types. 125 grams total, 3-9 mm
Acquired 1970-2010. Collection of a late Japanese gentleman.