Auction Highlights
-
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'.
-
Medieval and Other Ring Collection
12th-15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £72
A mixed group of bronze finger rings, each with an ornamental or engraved bezel, including examples with crosses. 39.8 grams total, 18-27 mm
Fine condition.
European private collection, 1970-1980s. London, UK, late 1990s. -
Medieval Seal Ring
Circa 15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £52
A copper-alloy seal ring with discoid plaque engraved with a blundered legend, seemingly 'IC[ ]VVVI'. 4.08 grams, 20.91 mm overall, 18.14 mm internal diameter (approximate size British P, USA 7 1/2, Europe 16.23, Japan 15)
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): £22
A mixed group of bronze buckles and buckle-frames, plaques and other fittings. 327 grams total, 16-54 mm
Found Suffolk. -
Medieval Large Key Group
Circa 12th-14th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £247
A mixed group of iron door keys comprising: one with solid shank, lozengiform bow, rectangular bit with elaborate piercings and three wards; one with hollow shank, circular bow, long rectangular pierced bit and two long wards; one with solid shank, ellipsoid bow, rectangular pierced bit and three wards. 126 grams total, 10.5-13.6 cm
Acquired 1971-1972. From the collection of the vendor's father. Property of a London, UK, collector. -
Medieval Ring with Beast Facing Back
Circa 12th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £72
A copper-alloy ring composed of a slender hoop (now slightly misshaped), expanding at the shoulders to an oval bezel engraved with a stylised regardant beast within a dashed frame. 2.66 grams, 21.44 mm overall, 16.73 mm internal diameter (approximate size British M, USA 6, Europe 12.46, Japan 12)
Private collection formed since the 1940s. UK art market. Property of an Essex gentleman. -
Medieval Cross Pendant
Circa 14th-16th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £78
A cruciform pendant with small lug to both corners of each arm; integral suspension loop. 7.58 grams, 47.5 mm
Acquired in the 1990s. UK private collection. Property of a Sussex, UK, teacher. -
Medieval Silver and Niello Belt Mount
Circa 14th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £46
A rectangular silver belt plate displaying an enigmatic niello motif; pierced twice for attachment. 6.21 grams, 38 mm
Essex gallery, early 2000s. -
Anglo-Norman Limestone Font
Circa 12th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £5,715
A large carved pale ochre limestone font in three sections comprising: a discoid stepped base, plain columnar shaft, and barrel-shaped bowl with incised circumferential rings to the outer face; available to view at our Harwich head office only. 299 kg total, 95 cm
Fine condition.
From Sussex, UK. Private collection formed in the 1960s. Oswestry, Shropshire, UK, collection. Ex Howell collection. Accompanied by an off-print: McClain, Aleksandra Baptism and Burial in Stone: Materializing Pastoral Care in Anglo-Norman England, Volume 7, 2018, p.10, fig.4, where it shows a very similar example of 12th century in date from Ellerburn Church. Accompanied by an Art Loss Register certificate no.S00156424. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11412-193070. -
Medieval 'Thames' Castle Secular Badge with Key Below Draw Bridge
14th-16th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £78
A copper-alloy secular badge in the form of a turreted castle, with drawbridge below crenelated gateway, detailing to the windows and stonework; two attachment loops to the reverse. 3.6 grams, 25 mm
Found on the Thames foreshore, London, UK. Acquired 1960s-1990s. From the late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister. -
Medieval Archer's Ring
14th-15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £104
A bronze archer's thumb ring comprising a tapering hoop and triangular plaque, three flanking bosses. 2.87 grams, 25.04 mm overall, 18.66 mm internal diameter (approximate size British Q, USA 8, Europe 17.49, Japan 16)
Acquired early 2000s. Property of a Birmingham, UK, collector. Property of an Essex, UK, gentleman. -
Medieval Gold and Garnet Pendant
12th-15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £169
A pendant composed of a rectangular gold frame with rounded corners and suspension loop, with polished garnet insert. 0.35 grams, 9 mm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. -
English Medieval Handled Flask
15th-16th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £91
A wheel-thrown redware flask composed of a stout, piriform body, strap handle and pinched mouth, splayed foot; decorative lead glaze to the upper body; label to base: 'THE / HENRY SANDON / COLLECTION / E.140'. 745 grams, 22 cm high
Fine condition.
Ex Henry Sandon collection. Brunk Auctions, 18 January 2014, lot 25 (part). Ex central London gallery. Accompanied by a copy of a previous typed catalogue page.