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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Anglo-Saxon Disc Brooch Pair
5th-7th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £171
A matching pair of bronze disc brooches, each comprising a discoid plate decorated with a chip-carved outer circle and quincunx of dot-in-ring motifs; pin lugs and catch plate to reverse. 28 grams total, 37 mm each
Fine condition.
Found near Ixworth, Norfolk, UK, 1970s. Ex UK collection. Property of a Portsmouth, UK gentleman. Accompanied by an old descriptive dealer label. -
Late Anglo-Saxon Strap End with Dragons
10th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £26
A bronze tag with openwork design of two addorsed beasts rising from a transverse base with stepped panel below and three holes to accept rivets. 12.4 grams, 37 mm
Found Cambridgeshire, UK. -
Anglo-Saxon Gilt Chip-Carved Beast Mount
Circa 6th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £124
A rectangular gilt copper-alloy Style 1 mount displaying a chip-carved beast facing right; remains of a mounting lug to reverse. 1.18 grams, 32 mm
Fine condition, small loss to one end end.
Found UK. Acquired in the 1990s. From a North Yorkshire private collection, UK. -
Anglo-Saxon Gilt Chip-Carved Quatrefoil Mount
Circa 6th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £98
A gilt copper-alloy quatrefoil mount with concentric ornamental gilt chip-carved squares to the central section, raised central cell containing a fragment of a polished garnet or other stone; two mounting lugs to the reverse, together with a collector's identification number: 'M5437'. 4.6 grams, 26 mm
Found UK. Acquired in the 1990s. From a North Yorkshire private collection, UK. -
Anglo-Saxon Gilt Chip-Carved Beast Mount
Circa 6th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £98
A square-shaped gilt copper-alloy chip-carved mount with mounting lugs to reverse; gilt beast with three-strand body; secondary holes to accept mounting rivets, one still in place. 3.88 grams, 16 mm
Found UK. Acquired in the 1990s. From a North Yorkshire private collection, UK.
The small integral fixing pins on the reverse were removed when the mount had to be re-used; two holes were drilled through the image just inside the frame. -
Anglo-Saxon Artefact Group
6th-10th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £52
A mixed bronze group comprising: a flat-section bracelet with flared ends, incised and punched linear ornament; a pair of wrist-clasps fused (probably from a funeral pyre); an openwork panel fragment, probably from a stirrup mount. 56.7 grams total, 36-68 mm
Found Cambridgeshire, UK. -
Anglo-Saxon Enamelled Interlace Bone-Shaped Mount
7th-8th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £111
A copper-alloy mount decorated with a yellow enamelled interlace knot against a reddish enamelled field; perforated for attachment, remains of mounting lugs to reverse; Hiberno-Saxon workmanship. 18.3 grams, 67 mm
Found UK. Acquired in the 1990s. From a North Yorkshire private collection, UK. -
Anglo-Saxon Iron Ship Rivet
Circa 6th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £13
An iron ship rivet composed of a tapering rectangular-section body and broad, slightly domed head. 75 grams, 57 mm
Found UK. Essex gallery, early 2000s. -
Saxon Cruciform Bow Brooch
6th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £114
A bronze cruciform brooch comprising a rectangular headplate with trapezoidal lateral panels, collared knop above, punched pellets to the outer edges, relatively shallow bow, slender footplate with scrolled lappets, transverse ribbing, beast-head finial with trefoil muzzle; pin-lugs and catchplate to reverse. 32.1 grams, 11 cm
Fine condition.
Acquired Munich, Germany, late 1990s. Property of an East London gentleman.
The brooch is rather more dainty than the majority of the cruciform types, with a thin bow and small catch to the reverse. -
Anglo-Saxon Zoomorphic Strap End with Lobed Cross
Circa 8th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £46
A bronze zoomorphic strap end of Thomas's Class A displaying a reserved central lobed cross against a hatched field (keyed to accept sheet silver ornament), stylised beast head finial below; split upper edge and mounting lugs to the reverse. 1.17 grams, 54 mm
Found UK. Acquired in the 1990s. From a North Yorkshire private collection, UK.
The four areas surrounding the cross have been keyed to accept a silver panel each; silver inserts were also placed within the 'eyes' on the cross, of which one is still in place. -
Merovingian Silver Ring with Twisted Bezel
Circa 6th-7th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
A silver finger ring formed as a single rod tapering at both ends, formed into a flat coil and wound around the shank. 2.50 grams, 24.79 mm overall, 19.84 mm internal diameter (approximate size British T 1/2, USA 9 3/4, Europe 21.89, Japan 21)
Acquired in the late 1990s-2000. Property of an East London gentleman. -
Frankish Gilt Chip-Carved Scabbard Mount with Garnets
Circa 6th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £85
A gilt copper-alloy mount or scabbard-slider (Menghin's Typ IIIa Basel-Gotterbarmweg-Entringen) comprising three horizontal rectangular cells to the upper, middle and lower third of the body, each with gilt frame and set with a polished garnet cloison; the interstitial bridges with gilt ribbing; iron remains to verso. 11.8 grams, 44 mm
Found UK. Acquired in the 1990s. From a North Yorkshire private collection, UK.