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 Twisted Bracelet
Circa 8th-10th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £247
A penannular bronze bracelet with a decoratively twisted round-section body tapering towards the terminals. 23 grams, 66 mm
Early 1990s London collection. Acquired on the UK art market. From a private collection, Lancashire, UK. -
Viking Age Silver Axe Pendant
Circa 9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
A silver pendant composed of a hoop with coiled terminals and a free-moving axehead pendant. 7.75 grams, 57 mm
Acquired in the 1990s. UK private collection. Property of a Sussex, UK, teacher. -
Viking Age Gold Repoussé Pendant
9th-12th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £124
A bifacial repoussé gold pendant with tubular suspension loop embellished with granules. 0.34 grams, 14 mm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. -
Viking Period Silver Ring and Bird Pendant Group
8th-10th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £234
A trio of silver jewellery items comprising: two slender annular rings with overlapping terminals and coiled collars; a free-running pendant in the form of a stylised bird with eye and body detailing, three suspension loops and remaining chain links below. 7.51 grams total, 22-53 mm
Fine condition.
Acquired in the late 1990s-2000. Property of an East London gentleman. -
Scandinavian Viking Equal-Arm Brooch
9th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £64
A bronze equal-arm brooch of Aargård Type III A, with central segmented boss, symmetrical flanges with low-relief geometric ornament and trefoil finial, raised studs to the panels of the trefoils and the central boss, pin to the reverse with lugs and separate rivetted catch (ancient repair?), single link from a copper-alloy suspension chain attached beside the pin-lug. 32.7 grams, 73 mm
Fine condition.
Acquired before 1960. From the family collection of a UK gentleman, by descent in the early 1970s. -
Viking Age Lozenge-Shaped Silver Filigree Pendant
9th-12th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £442
A silver lozenge-shaped pendant with integral loop, applied filigree pattern of spirals and tendrils, applied granules. 2.78 grams, 33 mm
Private collection formed in Europe in the 1980s. Westminster collection, central London, UK. -
Viking Period Silver Lunar Pendant
Circa 10th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £234
A silver crescent pendant with applied rim, recurved suspension loop, three applied granules each with a penannular collar; Slavic workmanship. 4.26 grams, 25.19 mm wide
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): £247
A group of iron keys and a lock; three keys with square pierced finials; one with a disc finial, two square voids; one with a cruciform head. crimped edges and void; iron barrel padlock with hasp. 250 grams total, 10.7-11.8 cm
Acquired 1971-1972. From the collection of the vendor's father. Property of a London, UK, collector. -
Viking Age Miniature Gold Shield Boss
9th-12th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £286
A miniature sheet-gold domed shield boss, embellished with repoussé concentric dots orbiting a larger central dome. 10.2 grams, 18 mm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. -
Viking Period Plaited Bracelet
8th-10th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
A penannular copper-alloy bracelet composed of a plaited body with bulbous terminals. 23.5 grams, 73 mm
Acquired in the late 1990s-2000. Property of an East London gentleman. -
Viking Age Gold Elf Shot Pendant
9th-12th century A.D. or earlierSold for (Inc. bp): £260
A gold 'elf shot' pendant with arch-shaped body and collared suspension loop, set with a polished garnet or amethyst stone. 1.31 grams, 16 mm high
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.
This amulet was believed to offer protection against 'Elfshot'. The attack of elves was believed responsible for mysterious suffering in men and livestock. 'Elfshot' described sudden shooting pains localised to a particular area of the body, such as in rheumatism, arthritis or muscle stitches or cramps. Elves were thought to shoot darts or arrows where such pains had no obvious external cause. Belief in elfshot persisted into the 20th century in rural areas, and as proof, country folk would sometimes find small arrowheads (the remains of Neolithic or Mesolithic flints, or naturally-occurring spear-shaped stones) that were believed to be the magical weapons that caused the afflictions. Belief in elfshot began in the Pagan Germanic period. -
Medieval Saint Edward the Confessor Pilgrim's Badge
Circa 11th-12th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
A copper-alloy pilgrim's badge in the form of the letter E, in reference to Saint Edward; the upper face decorated with shallow recessed channels tracing the plan of the letter and openwork fleurs between the bars; recessed reverse; two perforations for attachment. 2.9 grams, 26 mm
Acquired in the late 1990s-2000. Property of an East London gentleman.