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 and later Thimble Group
14th-15th century A.D. and laterSold for (Inc. bp): £26
A mixed group of mainly bronze thimbles including ring, beehive and other types 83 grams total, 12-20 mm
Found Suffolk. -
Medieval Handled Jug
15th-16th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £72
A coarse ceramic jug with squat body, steep shoulder, broad mouth pinched to form a pouring lip, thick strap handle to the rear. 1.4 kg, 16.7 cm high
Acquired 1971-1972. From the collection of the vendor's father. Property of a London, UK, collector. -
Medieval Silver Ring with Lion
Circa 15th-16th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £364
A silver finger ring with hatched transverse bands to the equator, facetted shoulders with foliage detailing, octagonal bezel with incised running lion with tail raised beneath a star and crescent. 10.4 grams, 25.70 mm overall, 19.29 mm internal diameter (approximate size British P 1/2, USA 7 3/4, Europe 16.86, Japan 16)
Acquired in the late 1990s-2000. Property of an East London gentleman. -
Medieval and Other Ring Collection
Mainly 12th-15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £72
A mixed group of finger rings comprising various shapes and sizes, bezels with plain, geometric and floral designs. 46 grams total, 21-26 mm
Fine condition.
European private collection, 1970-1980s. London, UK, late 1990s. -
Medieval Gold Ring with Garnet Cabochon
14th-15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £156
A gold ring with slender round-section hoop and circular cell set with a polished garnet cabochon. 0.71 grams, 19.14 mm overall, 15.53 mm internal diameter (approximate size British I, USA 4 1/4, Europe 7.44, Japan 7)
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection. -
Medieval and Later Lead Artefact Collection
13th century A.D. and laterSold for (Inc. bp): £19
A mixed group of lead artefacts comprising weights, spindle whorls and other items, including a head of Fred Archer, 'best all-round jockey'. 955 grams total, 20-71 mm
Fair condition.
Found Wiltshire, UK. -
Medieval and Other Ring Collection
15th century A.D. and laterSold for (Inc. bp): £117
A mixed group of copper-alloy rings of various types and sizes, including examples set with glass cabochons, openwork shoulders, punched and incised geometric motifs, and a bezel dated '1898', amongst others. 34.9 grams total, 20-24 mm
Acquired in the late 1990s-2000. Property of an East London gentleman. -
Medieval and Other Artefact Group
12th century A.D. and laterSold for (Inc. bp): £33
A mixed group including a bronze hand bell, shoe buckles, furnace slag, furniture fittings and other items. 790 grams total, 1.4-10.1 cm
Fair condition.
Found by John Harrison whilst searching with a metal detector in Lancashire or Cumbria, UK. -
Medieval Dagger Chape
12th-15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £26
A copper-alloy dagger chape of with crescentic opening and knop finial, rectangular and circular voids to one face. 14.44 grams, 49 mm
Acquired in the 1970s. Important European collection. -
Medieval and later Mount Group
14th-18th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £78
A mixed group of bronze mounts and appliqués of various kinds. 166 grams total, 12-64 mm
Found Suffolk. -
Medieval Lead Seal Matrix
13th-14th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £65
A vesica-shaped lead seal matrix with fleur-de-lys and pellets to the reverse, central cinquefoil to the obverse and surrounding legend "+ S'MARIONGER[.]" (Seal of Marion Ger...). 15.9 grams, 31 mm
Found Suffolk, UK. -
Medieval 'Thames' Wine Tavern Token
Circa 14th-15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £111
A lead-alloy bifacial token with on one face a hatched sexfoil rosette within a pelletted border, and the other two opposed birds supporting a processional cross. 0.84 grams, 16 mm
Found on the Thames foreshore, London, UK. Acquired on the UK antiques market between 1974-1985. Albert Ward collection, Essex, UK.
Tokens of this type were used in taverns and similar establishments.