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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Viking Age Silver Gripping Beast Pendant
Late 10th-early 11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £182
A silver Scandinavian pendant of Riddarholmen type with integral loop; the openwork plaque with banded border and four panels, internal stylised zoomorph with hatched panel to the hip, gripping three-fingered hands to the body and border, two detailed feet, clearly visible facing mask below the loop with pellet eyes. 4.51 grams, 29 mm
Private collection formed in Europe in the 1980s. Westminster collection, central London, UK.
This type of pendant was also widespread in the historical Rus region, centred on Kiev. -
Scandinavian Viking Silver Equal-Arm Brooch
9th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £57
A silver equal-arm brooch of Aargård Type III A, with central segmented boss, symmetrical lozengiform scooped flanges with Borre Style low-relief geometric ornament and trefoil finial, ferrous pin to the reverse with lugs and catch, short length of copper-alloy suspension chain attached to a loop to the reverse. 52.4 grams, 13 cm
Fine condition.
Acquired before 1960. From the family collection of a UK gentleman, by descent in the early 1970s. -
Viking Period Pennanular Brooch Collection
Circa 9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £390
A mixed group of bronze penannular brooches: one with polyhedral finials; one with domed square finials; one with everted dragon-head finials. 124 grams, 46-67 mm
Acquired 1971-1972. From the collection of the vendor's father. Property of a London, UK, collector. -
Viking Age Silver Twisted Torc
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £364
A small silver neck torc formed of twisted rods with hammered looped terminals. 38 grams,13 cm
Previously acquired in the 1980s. From a North West London collection. -
Viking Period Faux Twist Ring
Circa 10th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £46
A copper-alloy ring composed of a tapering hoop which is thickest at the bezel, decorated with a deep, faux-twist motif. 3.35 grams, 24.61 mm overall, 18.40 mm internal diameter (approximate size British P 1/2, USA 7 3/4, Europe 16.86, Japan 16)
Private collection formed since in the 1940s. UK art market. Property of an Essex gentleman. -
Viking Inspired Omega-Shaped Penannular Brooch
12th-15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £33
A Viking-inspired bronze Mordvinian 'Omega' penannular brooch comprising a round-section hoop and two trapezoidal plate finials each with a geometric design of granulation; round-section pin coiled to the hoop. 13 grams, 56 mm
Acquired early 2000s. Property of a Birmingham, UK, collector. Property of an Essex, UK, gentleman. -
Viking Period Silver Coiled Ring
8th-10th century A.D. or earlierSold for (Inc. bp): £416
A coiled silver ring comprising five slender tiers and tapering terminals, the central three coils plain, the upper and lower most tiers decorated with punched rectangles within expanded elliptical panels. 5.25 grams, 21.85 mm overall, 17.25 mm internal diameter (approximate size British M 1/2, USA 6 1/4, Europe 13.09, Japan 12)
Acquired in the late 1990s-2000. Property of an East London gentleman. -
Anglo-Scandinavian Viking Trefoil Dragon-Whorl Mount
Circa 9th-10th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £338
A copper-alloy trefoil whorl mount composed of three intertwined openwork dragons with pierced eyes; multiple mounting perforations. 12.8 grams, 39 mm
Fine condition.
Found UK. Acquired in the 1990s. From a North Yorkshire private collection, UK. -
Viking Age Stamped Silver Pendant
Circa 8th-10th century A.D. or laterSold for (Inc. bp): £286
A silver discoid pendant with ribbed suspension loop, decorated with a central repoussé dome within a square frame composed of stamped triangles containing single pellets, in turn enclosed within a roundel composed of stamped triangles containing trefoil pellets, and an outer border of annulets. 4.89 grams, 38 mm
Fine condition, usage wear.
Acquired in the 1990s. From a North Yorkshire private collection, UK. -
Viking Age Silver Axe Amulet
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £111
A silver amulet formed as a twibill double-bladed axehead. 2.2 grams, 18 mm
Acquired in the late 1990s-2000. Property of an East London gentleman. -
Viking Period Lock and Key Group
Circa 10th-12th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £221
A group of iron keys and a lock; two keys with sith a cruciform head, crimped edges and central void; one with a square head with spur to each angle; one with T-shaped head and vertical spurs; one with a disc finial, square void with rounded edges; one iron barrel padlock with hasp. applied decorative bands to the body. 407 grams total, 9.5-15.5 cm
Acquired 1971-1972. From the collection of the vendor's father. Property of a London, UK, collector. -
Viking Age Silver Decorated Axehead Pendant with Loop
8th-10th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £442
A silver pendant composed of a free-running sub-triangular axehead pendant with flanges to the socket, one face displaying a dot-in-ring motif at the centre of concentric zigzagging triangles; slender ring with overlapping terminals forming coiled sleeves and spiralling plaques. 1.9 grams, 33 mm
Acquired before 2000. From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK.