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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Saxon Garnet-Inlaid 'Face' Buckle Element
6th-7th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £432
A portion of a gold buckle or fitting with garnet cloisonné 'face' to the obverse, bands of granulation above and below; comprising a triangular panel with two garnet disc 'eyes' above a greenish (perhaps serpentine) filling to the upper cell, and a row of four garnets below; the effect represents either a face, or the other way up, two serpents settled with their addorsed heads resting on the baseline; two mounting loops to the reverse. 2.84 grams, 23 mm
Fine condition.
Acquired 1970-2010. Collection of a late Japanese gentleman.
The design replicates in cloisonné technique the dense artwork found for example on saucer brooches and sword pommels where serpents and quadrupeds are crowded into small spaces in the design. See for example Hammond (2009), item 1.1.6.6-h, a pair of saucer brooches with panels of animals and birds. -
Anglo-Saxon and Other Artefact Group
2nd-14th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £64
A mixed bronze group comprising: an Anglo-Saxon tongue-shaped strap end with pelletted border, silver-inlaid panel of a regardant beast, securing rivet, animal-head finial; a Roman bronze finger ring with stepped shoulders; medieval tweezers with balustered and notched edges. 16 grams total, 21-62 mm
Fine condition.
Acquired 1970s-1980s. Ex UK collection. Property of a Portsmouth, UK gentleman. -
Viking Age Bronze Chain Necklace
Circa 8th-10th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £286
A bronze necklace composed of circular chain links and single larger hoop. 63 grams, 52 cm long
Early 1990s London collection. Acquired on the UK art market. From a private collection, Lancashire, UK. -
Viking Age Hack Silver Bar
9th-12th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
An irregular rectangular-section silver bar with roughly cut ends. 6.81 grams, 35 mm
Acquired 1960s-1990s. Late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister. -
Viking Age Ring with Lozenge-Shaped Bezel
Circa 9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £46
A ring composed of a convex hoop and lozenge-shaped bezel with raised knops to each corner, hatching to the interior surrounding an enigmatic central motif. 3.66 grams, 21.67 mm overall, 18.52 mm internal diameter (approximate size British P, USA 7 1/2, Europe 16.23, Japan 15)
Acquired 1990s. English private collection. Property of an Essex gentleman. -
Viking Age Silver Expandable Child's Bracelet Pair
Circa 8th-10th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £72
A pair of child-sized silver bracelets, each composed of a tapering, roughly round-section body and overlapping arms coiled around the opposite shoulder forming an openwork bezel. 21.9 grams total, 49-50 mm
Early 1990s London collection. Acquired on the UK art market. From a private collection, Lancashire, UK. -
Viking Age Bracelet Group
Circa 8th-10th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £156
A group of two flat-section copper-alloy penannular bracelets, one decorated with scallops around the upper and lower edge with annulet fill; one decorated with a medial wavy line between plain bands, loop terminals with ring to both. 35 grams total, 57-59 mm
Early 1990s London collection. Acquired on the UK art market. From a private collection, Lancashire, UK. -
Viking Age Coiled Bracelet Pair
Circa 8th-10th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £130
A pair of bracelets, each with a tapering body, arms overlapping at the bezel, forming coiled wire sleeves around the opposite shoulder. 112 grams total, 71-72 mm wide
Early 1990s London collection. Acquired on the UK art market. From a private collection, Lancashire, UK. -
Viking Age Silver Filigree Pendant with Boss
9th-12th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £546
A silver disc pendant with integral suspension loop; the obverse with central boss and beaded wire collar, frieze of comma-shaped filigree motifs with collared granules, filigree to the rim extending to the edges of the loop. 3.9 grams, 39 mm
Private collection formed in Europe in the 1980s. Westminster collection, central London, UK. -
Viking Age Omega-Shaped Brooch
Circa 12th-14th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £39
A Viking-inspired bronze Mordvinian omega-shaped brooch composed of a round-section penannular hoop, trapezoidal plates with granulation and free-running pin with coiled attachment loop. 12.6 grams, 61 mm
Acquired in the 1990s. From a North Yorkshire private collection, UK. -
Viking Age Silver Axe Pendant
Circa 9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £59
A silver pendant composed of a free-running axehead pendant suspended on a slender hoop with overlapping arms and coiled terminals. 1.28 grams, 28 mm
Acquired in the 1990s. UK private collection. Property of a Sussex, UK, teacher. -
Pre-Viking Silver Filigree Aroma Bucket Pendant
4th-7th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £416
A silver pendant formed as a miniature bucket with applied filigree bands to the strap handle and body, granules to the median panel of the body and at the junction with the handle. 4.28 grams, 25 mm
Private collection formed in Europe in the 1980s. Westminster collection, central London, UK.
Pendants in the form of miniature buckets have been found in a number of pagan Anglo-Saxon and Viking contexts and are generally made of bronze or iron, with gold examples being rare; three gold examples were found with the hoard from Hoen, Norway. Bronze bucket amulets have been found at Driffield in Yorkshire, and Vimose bog in Denmark, among other places. In form they represent wooden buckets bound with bronze or iron bands which have been found in Anglo-Saxon and Viking graves and are believed to have held mead or ale and were used to replenish the cups from which warriors drank. As amulets they probably represent the ecstatic power of alcoholic drink and the role of women as the dispensers of these precious beverages.