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 Ring with Standing Figure
12th-14th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £39
A copper-alloy ring composed of a hoop expanding at the shoulders to a large sub-circular bezel, engraved with an animated stylised figure with enigmatic symbols in the field, all within a roundel. 5.03 grams, 23.74 mm overall, 21.11 mm internal diameter (approximate size British W, USA 11, Europe 25, Japan 24)
Private collection formed since the 1940s. UK art market. Property of an Essex gentleman. -
Medieval and Other Ring Collection
Mainly 12th-15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £78
A mixed group of finger rings of various types and sizes, bezels comprising geometric and floral designs. 38.7 grams total, 20-23 mm
Fine condition.
European private collection, 1970-1980s. London, UK, late 1990s. -
Medieval and Other Ring Collection
15th century A.D. and earlierSold for (Inc. bp): £130
A mixed group of bronze finger rings including one with hatched detailing to the shoulders and bezel. 73 grams total, 17-26 mm
Acquired in the 1970s. Important European collection. -
Medieval Gold Ring with Garnet
12th-14th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £203
A gold ring with slender round-section penannular hoop with bulbous terminals, supporting a triangular cell set with a polished garnet cabochon. 0.68 grams, 16.74 mm overall,13.26 mm internal diameter (approximate size British D 1/2, USA 2, Europe 1.78, Japan 1)
Fine condition.
Ex Abelita family collection, 1980-2015. -
Medieval Gold Beast-Headed Bracelet Terminal
12th-13th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £286
A sheet-gold zoomorphic bracelet terminal in the form of a stylised beast head, composed of a rectangular-section body and crocodilian jaws; filigree volutes and granules decorating the body and forming the eyes and a scale-like ridge along the snout, and forming the outline of the creature's mouth; pierced through the mouth. 7.07 grams, 53 mm
Acquired in the 1980s. Private collection of a Hemel Hempstead, UK, gentleman. Property of a Harrow, UK gentleman. -
Medieval Decorated Bone Artefact
14th-15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £26
A bone item, likely the hilt of a knife, composed of a slightly tapering cuboid body with a thin piece of bone sandwiched between the two halves, one face ornamented with ring-and-dot motifs along the length of the body, crosses formed at regular intervals, one face with diagonal hatching, one face with columns composed of ring-and-dot motifs, one face with vertical hatching. 19.77 grams, 70 mm
Fine condition.
Acquired 1960s-1990s. Private collection of the late Alison Barker, a retired London barrister.
The careful repairs in antiquity suggest that this item was greatly treasured by its owner. -
Medieval Horse Shoe Collection
14th-16th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £72
A group of iron horse shoes of various sizes, including examples retaining nails. 1.29 kg total, 9.8-11.6 cm
Acquired in the 1990s. Collection of a Suffolk, UK, gentleman. -
Medieval and Other Artefact Collection
Circa 13th-19th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £20
A mixed group of metallic artefacts including: a thimble; buttons; buckles; clothes tags; Dutch coin token; 13th century bell; clothes fittings and other items. 97 grams total, 13-34 mm
Fine condition.
Found Wiltshire, UK. -
Medieval and Other Ring Collection
Mainly 12th-15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £72
A mixed group of ten finger rings of various types and sizes, comprising: a ring with tear-shaped bezel; two Roman rings dated c.2nd century A.D.; a Victorian ring with floral bezel; six medieval rings with geometric bezel designs. 28 grams total, 18-22 mm
Fine condition.
European private collection, 1970-1980s. London, UK, late 1990s. -
Large French Medieval and Later Stained Glass Window Pair
13th century A.D. and laterSold for (Inc. bp): £1,905
A pair of stained glass pointed-arch windows each in a substantial wooden frame, with inset figural roundels, vegetation and tendrils, heraldic motifs, complete and fragments, all dating from between the 13th and 17th century. 25.3 kg total, 1.20-1.21 m
Fine condition.
Collection of Paul W. Doll, Jr. (1926-2020). Ex central London gallery. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11419-192197. -
Medieval and Other Buckle and Harness Ring Collection
15th century A.D. and laterSold for (Inc. bp): £7
A mixed group of copper-alloy harness buckles of various forms, including examples with tongues. 193 grams total, 16-42 mm
Found Wiltshire, UK. -
Medieval Handled Jug
14th-16th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £59
A coarse ceramic jug with squat body, broad shoulder, tall mouth pinched to form a pouring lip, thick strap handle to the rear, two shallow circumferential incised bands. 936 grams, 19 cm high
Acquired 1971-1972. From the collection of the vendor's father. Property of a London, UK, collector.