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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Medieval Silver-Gilt Fede Ring
13th-14th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £351
A silver-gilt fede ring composed of a flat-section hoop with expanded bottom section and quatrefoil bezel; the hoop engraved with alternating vertical and horizontal hatched panels with expanded central section crudely engraved with clasped hands; bezel engraved with a cross embellished with cross-hatching in each quarter of the field. 2.69 grams, 24.69 mm overall, 22.78 mm internal diameter (approximate size British X, USA 11 1/2, Europe 26.23, Japan 25)
Found near Brookland, Kent, UK, 2007. Property of a Kent gentleman. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no. KENT-299A33. Accompanied by a copy of two letters from the British Museum and report for HM Coroner for Treasure case T493. Accompanied by a valuation letter and another from Peter D Spencer. Accompanied by a provisional treasure valuation for the Treasure Valuation Committee.
The quatrefoil bezel is in the form of a truelove (paris quadrifolia) as the plant was called in Middle English. Two fifteenth-century wills include the bequest of rings in the shape of a truelove: in 1407 an anulum argenti operatum cum uno trewlove [silver ring fashioned with a truelove] and in 1464, unum anulum argenti et deauratum cum uno trew lofe [a silver and silver-gilt ring with a truelove] On seals the device is most often accompanied by the legend LEL AMI AVET [you have a true love] confirming its identification with faithful love, and on a matrix recently unearthed [PAS database SWYOR-B7EDA9] the characteristic four veined leaves are surrounded by the posy, IS SVI FLVRE/ DE FINN AMVVR [I am the flower of perfect love]. -
Medieval and Other Ring Collection
Mainly 12th-15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £130
A mixed group of rings of various sizes and types, bezel designs including geometric and cruciform motifs, one set with a glass bead. 21.2 grams total, 20-24 mm
Fine condition, one broken, one hoop split.
European private collection, 1970-1980s. London, UK, late 1990s. -
Medieval 'Thames' Crowned Bust Pilgrim's Badge
Circa 14th-15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £715
An openwork lead badge composed of a crowned facing male bust within a roundel bearing the inscription '+ IANCOVLMASE'; complete with pin. 1.78 grams, 22 mm
Found on the Thames foreshore, London, UK. Acquired on the UK antiques market between 1974-1985. Albert Ward collection, Essex, UK.
This enigmatic inscription has been found on other similar badges, but is yet to be satisfactorily understood. It is possibly associated with the cult of Edward the Confessor or representing the head of John the Baptist. -
Medieval Gold Garnet Set Pendant
12th-15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
A bifacial gold pendant of tubular form, four oval cells to the terminals with polished garnet inserts, granules to the body and cells. 1.15 grams, 14 mm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. -
Medieval Ring with Bird
12th-14th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £65
A bronze ring with slightly convex hoop, expanding at the shoulders to an oval bezel engraved with a stylised bird and a faux herringbone motif to the shoulders. 2.53 grams, 18.75 mm overall, 15.49 mm internal diameter (approximate size British I 1/2, USA 4 1/2, Europe 8.07, Japan 7)
Private collection formed since the 1940s. UK art market. Property of an Essex gentleman. -
Medieval Horse Harness Mount Group
Circa 14th-15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £156
A group of bronze horse harness mounts comprising: a medallion with openwork design portraying a griffin pouncing on a hare within a decoratively notched frame, mounting lugs to reverse; a stylised running hare mount with two mounting lugs to reverse; two attachments with three stylised fleur-de-lys radiating from a central opening, mounting lugs to the reverses; ten stylised floral mounts, broadly triangular in plan with scrolled detailing, mounting lugs to reverse of each. 32.1 grams total, 12-46 mm
North American collection, 1990s-2000s. Property of a Surrey gentleman. -
Medieval and later Thimble Group
14th-15th century A.D. and laterSold for (Inc. bp): £91
A mixed group of bronze thimbles including beehive, ring and other types. 95 grams total, 12-22 mm
Found Suffolk. -
Large Medieval Gilt Heraldic Horse Harness Pendant
14th-15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £104
A scalloped lozengiform horse harness pendant with integral suspension loop, central organic cross, the arms expanding into foliate forms; traces of gilding. 15.29 grams, 68 mm
Acquired early 2000s. Property of a Suffolk, UK, gentleman. Property of an Essex, UK, gentleman. -
Medieval 'Thames' Secular Badge Collection
Circa 14th-15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £260
A mixed group of lead-alloy badges and fragments comprising; a ring with facing mask to the centre, enigmatic legend 'DSMLAOCNA'; a hatched panel with frond emerging from the upper edge; a phallus; a crossbow with stirrup. 6.6 grams total, 20-24 mm
Found on the Thames foreshore, London, UK. Acquired on the UK antiques market between 1974-1985. Albert Ward collection, Essex, UK. -
Medieval Gilt Pendant with Saint
12th-13th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £98
A hollow-formed gilt-bronze triangular sleeve with open edge and attachment loops, repoussé image of a nimbate facing saint with a cross in one hand. 7.12 grams, 39 mm
Fine condition.
Acquired from Dick Meyer in 2005. Ex central London gallery. -
Medieval Silver Ring with Griffin
14th-16th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £208
A silver finger ring with carinated shoulders bearing hatched panels, ellipsoid bezel with pelletted border, reserved advancing griffin with arched neck and raised wing. 13.66 grams, 26.45 mm overall, 21.80 mm internal diameter (approximate size British U, USA 10, Europe 22.52, Japan 21)
Acquired in the late 1990s-2000. Property of an East London gentleman. -
Late Medieval to Stuart Buckle Group
15th-17th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £48
A mixed group of mainly bronze buckles for harness straps, belts, shoes and other types. 422 grams total, 11-56 mm
Found Suffolk.