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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Scandinavian Viking Boar's Head Brooch Collection
7th-10th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £635
A group of three Viking and pre-Viking boar's head brooches of different types comprising: a proto-animal-head brooch with swept profile, domed central panel and heater-shaped lateral flanges, catch to the foot; a proto-animal-head brooch decorated with domed central panel, two voids close to the upper edge, lateral conical domes to the corners, triangular snout with catch to the underside, zones of incised ornament; shallow dots and plain ears; a classic boar's head with lanceolate panels to the upper corners, rows of impressed dots, pierced at the top and hollow to accept a separate backplate with pin-lugs and catch. 42.8 grams total, 35-49 mm
Fine condition, pins absent.
UK gallery, acquired in the 2000s. Property of an English gentleman.
The brooch's origin in the late Roman crossbow brooch can be seen in the development of the final type. -
Viking Age Silver Axe Pendant
Circa 9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £85
A silver pendant composed of a tapering lozenge-section hoop with overlapping arms and coiled terminals, suspending an axehead pendant. 2.78 grams, 37 mm
Acquired in the 1990s. UK private collection. Property of a Sussex, UK, teacher. -
Viking Period Silver Pin
8th-10th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £33
A silver dress- or hair-pin comprising a tapering round-section stem and conical finial; stem tip absent. 6.3 grams, 12.5 cm
Acquired in the late 1990s-2000. Property of an East London gentleman. -
Viking Age Silver Axe Pendant
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £143
A silver miniature axehead with integral suspension loop. 2.27 grams, 21 mm
Acquired in the late 1990s-2000. Property of an East London gentleman. -
Viking Age Patrix Die with Figure
Circa 9th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £286
A Moravian sub-triangular copper-alloy patrix die displaying a stylised standing figure to the upper face, inorans pose, ring-and-dot and other symbols in the field. 41.5 grams, 43 mm
Acquired before 2000. From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK.
The Great Moravian Empire, Christianised by East Frankish missionaries and later experienced significant cultural development under King Rastislav, with the arrival of the mission of Saints Cyril and Methodius in 863 A.D., developed its own artistic style under the influence of Carolingian Empire and Eastern Roman Empire. The images of praying saints, similar to our figure, are evident on belt plate decorations, where the image of the suppliant with open hands and long talaris tunica is often repeated. If the two stylised figures are interpreted as lions, the patrix die could possibly represent the Biblical story of Daniel in the lion’s cave. -
Viking Age Silver Axe-Shaped Pendant
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
A silver pendant with integral loop, double-lozenge (twibill) in shape with horizontal gusset. 4.16 grams, 30 mm
Acquired in the late 1990s-2000. Property of an East London gentleman. -
Viking Age Silver Axe Pendant
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £46
A silver pendant comprising a free-running sub-triangular axehead pendant with flanges to the socket, one face with border of tremolier ornament; slender ring with terminals coiled around the shank. 1.38 grams, 38 mm
Acquired in the late 1990s-2000. Property of an East London gentleman. -
Viking Period Silver Hammer Pendant
8th-10th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £546
A bifacial silver hammer pendant with notched detailing to the handle and a horizontal trio of annulets to the blade; free-running silver ring with overlapping coiled arms. 2.23 grams, 33 mm
Acquired in the late 1990s-2000. Property of an East London gentleman. -
Viking Age Embossed Repoussé Bracelet
Circa 8th-10th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £111
A flat-section copper-alloy bracelet, the penannular body decorated with repoussé pellets to upper nad lower edges, medial band of pellets enclosed by incised circlets. 19 grams, 58 mm
Early 1990s London collection. Acquired on the UK art market. From a private collection, Lancashire, UK. -
Viking Period Silver Hammer Pendant
8th-10th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £520
A silver hammer pendant suspended on a free-running silver ring with overlapping and coiled arms, punch-decorated to one face with three horizontal triangles containing pellets. 2.63 grams, 33 mm
Acquired in the late 1990s-2000. Property of an East London gentleman. -
Viking Penannular Brooch
Circa 8th-10th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £98
A penannular bronze brooch with a tapering body and upturned terminals each with a polygonal knop with nine faces, with pricked dot and annulet decoration; the apex of the hoop with a tripartite collar, flanked by symmetrical decorative motifs comprising concentric triangles composed of pricked dots and with annulet fill and annulets to the apexes, framed by lozenges composed of four annulets; free-running pin composed of a tapering tongue with headplate coiled around the brooch, the head decorated with raised bands and chevrons. 19.2 grams, 46 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): £124
A silver axehead pendant and suspension loop with ends coiled about the shank. 1.68 grams, 31 mm
Acquired in the 1990s. UK private collection. Property of a Sussex, UK, teacher.