A red glass insert of a profile face with remains of a pharaonic crown to the forehead.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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]'.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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').

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.

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.

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'.

A bronze group comprising: a bronze figure of Amor or Cupid with wings spread and arms extended; a key with lozengiform bow and hooked bit. 52 grams total, 48-56 mm



Found Cambridgeshire, UK, 2022.

A bronze ellipsoid seal matrix with pierced quatrefoil finial; incuse motif of Mary seated with infant Jesus on her lap, star above her shoulder, kneeling robed and tonsured figure beside her with hand raised in prayer; Lombardic script legend to the border with beaded bands '* S' WILL'I DE ThORNTONE' (seal of William of Thornton). 12.8 grams, 25 mm



The Matrix Collection, formed by David Morris since the late 1980s. Matrix Collection catalogue no.909. Many of the seals within the collection were published in a book titled 'The Matrix Collection', by David Morris in 2012. Accompanied by a copy of the illustrated collection notes.

Thornton is a village in West Yorkshire, close to the city of Bradford and mentioned in Domesday Book; it was where the Brontë sisters spent their early lives before moving to Haworth.

A mixed group of lead artefacts mainly comprising spindle whorls, bag seals, seals and weights. 1.35 kg total, 13-41 mm



Found Wiltshire, Suffolk, Tyne and Wear, UK.

A mixed group of lead-alloy pilgrim's badge fragments comprising: a standing figure beside the nave of a church; a facing mask with curly hair; a profile figure with hands raised to the chin in prayer; a pin with discoid plate, facing mask within a beaded border (perhaps John the Baptist). 7.5 grams total, 16-25 mm



Found on the Thames foreshore, London, UK. Acquired on the UK antiques market between 1974-1985. Albert Ward collection, Essex, UK.

A group of leather shoe soles and fragments of various shapes, including examples displaying the original perforations for the attachment of additional shoe elements. 233 grams total, 5-25 cm



Found on the Thames foreshore, London, UK. Acquired on the UK antiques market between 1974-1985. Albert Ward collection, Essex, UK.

A mixed group of rings including examples set with glass cabochons, bezels engraved with geometric or cruciform designs, together with other types. 46.5 grams total, 19-29 mm



Acquired in the late 1990s-2000. Property of an East London gentleman.

A mixed group of metallic artefacts including lead weights and spindle whorls, copper-alloy decorative mounts, nail; clothes fitting and other items. 923 grams total, 15-64 mm



Found Wiltshire, UK.

A bronze horse harness pendant of four lobes with enamelled detailing; fleur-de-lys on each lobe, lion passant gardant in the central square. 13.7 grams, 41 mm



Found Cambridgeshire, UK.

A flat-section copper-alloy buckle plate of rectangular form with rectangular loop, decoratively incised with a stylised lion standing facing; cracked. 12.14 grams, 41 mm



Acquired 1990s. English private collection. Property of an Essex gentleman.

A copper-alloy tumbrel or coin balance with tongue-shaped platforms; one shelf with two steps for balancing two coins, the other with three steps for balancing three coins. 13.3 grams total, 70 mm each



Essex gallery, early 2000s.

A group of two silver artefacts comprising: a possible finial formed as a bird seated on a domed base with suspension loop to reverse; a comma-shaped mount or fitting displaying an entwined motif and with four mounting claws to the underside. 12 grams total, 18-25 mm



Essex gallery, early 2000s.

A single leaf from an early (possibly 1492 A.D.) printed paper bible, book of Exodus (29:1) concerning consecration of priests; the text set in two columns of blackletter type with numerous rubrications (embellishments in red), foliation and other marks; square versals; printed by Johann Gruninger, Strasbourg with commentary by Nicholas de Lyra. 7 grams, 33 x 24.5 cm



Acquired 1990s. M. Cummings collection, Lincolnshire, UK.