A red glass insert of a profile face with remains of a pharaonic crown to the forehead.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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]'.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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').

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.

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.

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'.

A bronze bracelet composed of a tapering round-section body, one terminal formed as a stylised serpent head, the other with a U-section clasp grasping the snake's neck. 44 grams, 61 mm wide



Early 1990s London collection. Acquired on the UK art market. From a private collection, Lancashire, UK.

A bronze P-shaped fitting with pierced rectangular lug and openwork 'eye'. 34 grams, 91 mm



Early 1990s London collection. Acquired on the UK art market. From a private collection, Lancashire, UK.

A spiralling gold hair ring with overlapping arms, each with an expanded central section. 2.72 grams, 12 mm



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.

A mixed group comprising: a bronze axehead blade, pelta-shaped with recurved tips; a hardstone scraper fragment, triangular with facetted faces. 78 grams total, 42-58 mm

Fine condition.

Ex UK art market, 1970s. Property of a London gentleman.

A copper-alloy bracelet with overlapping arms and expanding terminals. 91 grams, 70 mm wide



Acquired 1990s. Ex French collection.

A group of two spectacle pendants, each composed of two coiled wire circles joined by a loop. 14.2 grams total, 48-50 mm



Early 1990s London collection. Acquired on the UK art market. From a private collection, Lancashire, UK.

A significant portion of a copper-alloy socketted axehead with a convex cutting edge. 124 grams, 50 mm



Essex gallery, early 2000s.

A penannular bronze bracelet with convex outer face, terminals formed as stylised snake heads represented by punched ring-and-dot motifs and incised clusters of transverse lines. 73 grams, 67 mm wide



Early 1990s London collection. Acquired on the UK art market. From a private collection, Lancashire, UK.

A bronze bracelet formed using a convex bar with overlapping terminals. 103 grams, 80 mm



Acquired 1990s. English private collection. Property of an Essex gentleman.

A copper-alloy dirk, pointed oval in cross section and shape with a slightly raised central rib. 30.6 grams, 77 mm



Found whilst searching with a metal detector in Kendal, Cumbria, UK, on Wednesday 1st January 2003. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum’s Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.LANCUM-60B525.

A copper-alloy spearhead with leaf-shaped blade with flattened mid-rib and slightly squared shoulders, spilt socket and fastening collar to the socket. 152 grams, 26.5 cm long

Fine condition.

Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.

The spearhead with split socket gained popularity in the Near East by replacing the earlier tanged variants in many regions. This is best seen in the Levant, particularly at Byblos and Ugarit. At Byblos, production exploded around 2000 B.C., and c. 480 weapons were deposited mainly between 2000 and 1750 B.C. Spearheads with split sockets are among the principal categories at both Byblos and Ugarit. The use of a base collar is attested on at least three MBA spearheads from Ugarit - but the majority do not have such collars. Similar spearheads were also characteristic of the Transcaucasian Trialeti culture during the same period.

A group of two zoomorphic copper-alloy bracelets of penannular form, one featuring opposed stylised beast or hound head terminals, one with flattened terminals, likely representing snake heads. 37 grams total, 46-61 mm



Early 1990s London collection. Acquired on the UK art market. From a private collection, Lancashire, UK.