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 heavily patinated silver annular band, roughly rectangular in section decorated with a raised medial beaded band, plain raised bands above and below, and mounted lozengiform plaque displaying a central cross pattee; accompanied by a hinged ring box. 3.06 grams, 22.41 mm overall, 19.95 mm internal diameter (approximate size British T 1/2, USA 9 3/4, Europe 21.89, Japan 21)



Found whilst searching with a metal detector in Longsdale, Cumbia, UK, on Monday 1st January 1996, disclaimed and returned to the finder. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum’s Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.LANCUM-8541C5.

A bronze seal matrix of chessman-type with pierced lozenge finial, incuse design of intersecting arches and tracery, facing canine mask to the centre; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 11.9 grams, 30 mm



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

A mixed group of metallic artefacts from the Thames foreshore, comprising a thimble, chain links, decorative pin, crotal bells, decorative fitting and other objects. 24.8 grams total, 11-61 mm



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 lead pilgrim badges of different types: a wedge-shaped fragment displaying an openwork oval design; a semi-circular fragment bearing the letters 'CT' on a cross-hatched field; a pointed arch-shaped fragment decorated with lozenges, each populated with a single pellet, two piercings; a discoid example with raised central flower head, enclosed by concentric roundels decorated with geometric forms including pellets, ring-and-dot motifs and hatched lines, together with incomplete legend. 20.3 grams total, 29-39 mm



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

A copper-alloy ring composed of a slender hoop with shaped shoulders, the discoid bezel engraved with a single cell building with pitched roof, a winged figure or animal standing within, with simple geometric forms to the shoulders. 5.23 grams, 25.30 mm overall, 21.21 mm internal diameter (approximate size British U, USA 10, Europe 22.52, Japan 21)



Private collection formed since the 1940s. UK art market. Property of an Essex gentleman.

A mixed group of bronze casket keys, including barrel and other types. 80 grams total, 25-42 mm



Found Suffolk.

A copper-alloy ring composed of a slender, misshapen hoop, expanding at the shoulders to an oval-shaped bezel engraved with a swan standing with its wings part-spread. 1.98 grams, 20.66 mm overall, 17.69 mm internal diameter (approximate size British I, USA 4 1/4, Europe 7.44, Japan 7)



Private collection formed since the 1940s. UK art market. Property of an Essex gentleman.

A free-standing Grand Tour statuette of the goddess Demeter, carved from brilliant blue lapis lazuli; modelled in the round standing on an integral polygonal base, wearing a floor-length peplos and mantle, holding a cornucopia. 14.4 grams, 55 mm

Fine condition, right arm lost in antiquity.

Private UK collection. Property of a Cambridgeshire gentleman.

A group of ancient Roman style glass vessels: a horn-shaped vessel with animal head base and conical foot, with iridescent surfaces; a boot-shaped vessel with anklet, flared neck and suspension loops. 206 grams total, 11.2-15.5 cm high



German collection formed before 2000. Ex private European collection.

A copper-alloy ring composed of a slightly convex hoop, expanding shoulders and shield-shaped bezel, the shoulders and bezel engraved with flowering plants. 3.50 grams, 24.25 mm overall, 22.11 mm internal diameter (approximate size British W 1/2, USA 11 1/4, Europe 25.66, Japan 24)



Private collection formed since the 1940s. UK art market. Property of an Essex gentleman.

An acephalic clay chess piece representing a Bishop, with detailing to his robes and their voluminous sleeves. 18.1 grams, 45 mm high



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

A central plaque from a brass triptych with standing nimbate Mother of God, dressed in a chlamys and tunica talaris, with her arms extended outward and the head turned to the right, surrounded by two groups of worshippers, arranged in three rows: the angels at the top, the right ones at the centre and prophets with angels at the bottom; two flags flying horizontally on each side of her head, surrounded by plant decorations, while the sun and moon are depicted at the two corners of the plaque, separated by an inscription in Russian; in the upper part, in the shape of an eastern dome, is represented the Holy Trinity, Father and Son, seated on a throne of clouds, a cross in the middle surmounted by a dove. 142 grams, 13 cm high

Fair condition.

Acquired on the UK art market, 2000s. Property of an Essex gentleman.

The icon represents the Intercession of Mary, 'Joy of all who sorrow'. It formed the central part of a triptych with the Mother of God at the centre, surmounted by iconography of veneration. The (here missing) other parts of the triptych were embossed with scenes of the lives of Christ or Mary.