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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Spanish Blue and White Tile with Hunting Scene
Possibly 18th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £89
A blue and white rectangular tile depicting a hunting scene set in woodland, showing a mounted rider galloping left, holding a spear and wearing a plumed headdress, hunting hounds running beside him; mounted in a gold-coloured frame. 1.37 kg, 27.5 x 23 cm
Fair condition.
Acquired in the 2000s. Property of a North London collector. -
Post Medieval Silver Thaler Pendant Necklace
20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £52
A silver circular corded pendant mount containing an Austrian restrike silver thaler coin of Maria Theresa (bearing the frozen date '1780'); with suspension loop, bale and chain. 53 grams, 85 cm long
Fine condition; tarnished.
Acquired before 2000. From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK. -
Post Medieval Silver Cross Pendant
17th-19th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £44
A silver cruciform pendant with lobed arms ornamented with pellets, bearing an image of Christ crucified in low relief, suspension loop above. 5.2 grams, 34 mm
Fine condition.
Acquired on the UK art market in the late 1990s. Property of a UK gentleman. -
Gilt Ring with Roman Glass Cabochon
20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £234
A fragment of Roman mosaic glass set into a later gilt ring with hexagonal bezel. 9.29 grams, 31.38 mm overall, 18.37 mm internal diameter (approximate size British P, USA 7 1/2, Europe 16.23, Japan 15)
English private collection. -
Tudor 'Thames' Wire Butterfly Brooch with Dangles
Circa 16th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £20
A coiled wire 'butterfly' brooch or other jewellery piece, with beads representing the head and 'tail', four articulate dangles to the mid and lower body. 3.42 grams, 56 mm wide
Found on the Thames foreshore, London, UK. Acquired on the UK antiques market between 1974-1985. Albert Ward collection, Essex, UK. -
Medallion Featuring a Roman Soldier Dragging a Barbarian
19th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £111
A copper-alloy medallion: obverse depicting a Roman soldier standing on laurel leaves, dragging a barbarian, 'SVVS[ ] SAL S[ ]' legend around; reverse showing bearded male head in profile left, with detailing to hair and face. 264 grams, 96 mm wide
Acquired 1969-1999. London collection of the late Mr S.M., thence by descent. -
Post Medieval Ring with Crown
Circa 18th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £91
A copper-alloy ring with expanding arms, central crown in relief within a square border, scalloping around, channels to the shoulders. 3.91 grams, 19.93 mm overall, 16.66 mm internal diameter (approximate size British L 1/2, USA 6, Europe 11.87, Japan 11)
Acquired in the late 1990s-2000. Property of an East London gentleman. -
Bead and Stamp Seal Collection
20th century A.D. and earlierSold for (Inc. bp): £13
A mixed group of mainly stone beads and a seal, including lapis lazuli zoomorphic beads; a stamp seal with couchant lion carved in the round and incuse animal design to base in ancient style; a banded agate bead; biconical bead and others. 43.4 grams total, 5-34 mm
Essex gallery, early 2000s. -
Neoclassical Gemstone Plaque
18th-19th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £279
A banded agate intaglio engraved with an ancient Assyrian(?) style figural scene showing a man with sword in hand battling a sphinx-like mythical winged creature with the head of a woman and body of a lion, swollen teats lining the creature's belly; pair of drilled holes for suspension; chipped. 21.6 grams, 43 mm
Fine condition.
Property of a North London gentleman.
Likely an allusion to ancient tales of the monstrous and treacherous sphinx attacking the hero. -
Limestone Madonna and Child Statue
Circa 16th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £546
A carved volcanic tuff figurine of Mary standing holding the infant Jesus. 1.5 kg, 26.5 cm high
From Southern Europe. Acquired 1970s onwards. Private collection of Michael O'Hara (d. 2021), Cambridgeshire, UK. -
Silver Inlaid Astrolabe
20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £305
A base metal astrolabe, discoid with silver-inlaid zodiac to the reverse, domed obverse with numerals and text to the dome, removable cover with retaining bar, axle and cotter pin. 1.08 kg, 22.5 cm high
Fine condition.
Acquired 1998. UK private collection. -
Post Medieval Gold Heart Bead with Turquoise
19th-20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £127
A bifacial gold bead with twisted filigree frame to each flat face, gold cell and inset turquoise teardrop. 0.51 grams, 8 mm
Fine condition.
Acquired 1980s-1990s. North London, UK, collection.