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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Post Medieval Watch Key Group
18th-19th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £59
A mixed group of mainly bronze watch keys, some with manufacturer's name. 75.4 grams total, 20-55 mm
Found Suffolk. -
Post Medieval Culinary Artefact
16th-18th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £7
A copper-alloy artefact, likely a pastry cutter handle, composed of a lobed finial and two prongs with evidence of perforations for bar to suspend the cutter. 15.6 grams, 71 mm
Fine condition.
Found Wiltshire, UK. -
Post Medieval Gold Ring with Mercury Gemstone
17th-18th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £293
A gold finger ring with openwork hoop and split shoulders, ellipsoid bezel with carnelian intaglio of Mercury wearing a petasos. 3.36 grams, 21.24 mm overall, 18.50 mm internal diameter (approximate size British Q 1/2, USA 8 1/4, Europe 18.12, Japan 17)
English private collection. -
Tudor Figural Chafing Dish Mount
16th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £20
A bifacial anthropomorphic copper-alloy chafing dish mount, comprising a flat plate in the shape of a man's head and torso in profile, incised on both sides outlining stylised facial features and a hood or cap. 11.1 grams, 33 mm
Found near Brenzett, Kent, UK. Property of a Kent gentleman. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no. KENT-561C41.
The PAS report dates this item to 1575-1650. Such supports were used in sets of three on chafing dishes. Scholars believe they were produced in Germany, Denmark and the Low Countries from 1575 onwards, remaining in use in poorer households until the middle of the 18th century A.D. Such a find is rare in England. -
Stuart Period Silver Ring with Shield and IHS
Circa 17th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £182
A silver finger ring with teardrop bezel, pointillé border, 'IHS' inscription with cross supported by the 'H'. 7.32 grams, 21.57 mm overall, 18.94 mm internal diameter (approximate size British Q 1/2, USA 8 1/4, Europe 18.12, Japan 17)
Acquired in the late 1990s-2000. Property of an East London gentleman. -
Post Medieval Enamelled Pendant
Circa 18th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £39
A bronze pendant of discoid form and suspension loop to apex, openwork design comprising a stylised figure with polychrome enamelling. 5.56 grams, 35 mm
Acquired before 2000. From the collection of a European gentleman living in the UK. -
Post Medieval Love Token and Other Silver Artefact Group
18th-19th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £21
A mixed group of silver artefacts comprising; coins bent into 'love tokens'; worn coins; a plain finger ring; two crotal bell fragments; bulbous button fragment; button with geometric floral motif; fragment of a thimble. 28.7 grams total, 8-25 mm
Found Wiltshire, UK. -
Roman Style Gold Ring with Portrait Cameo
20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £494
A substantial gold finger ring with ellipsoid cell to the bezel, inset glass nicolo profile female bust. 17.96 grams, 28.10 mm overall, 22.33 mm internal diameter (approximate size British X, USA 11 1/2, Europe 26.29, Japan 25)
English private collection. -
Post Medieval 'Thames' William Mathews of London Pewter Plate
Circa 1690 A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £48
A pewter plate, the upper face bearing an eagle on a rope base between two plumes; reverse stamped for William Matthews of London, c.1690. 440 grams, 23.7 cm wide
Found on the Thames foreshore, London, UK. Acquired on the UK antiques market between 1974-1985. Albert Ward collection, Essex, UK. -
Post Medieval Enamelled Plaque in Limoges Style
19th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £114
An enamelled plaque in Limoges style, Saint Mary carrying the infant Jesus standing at the centre, banner reading 'SANCTA MARIA' below on a field of lozenges containing crosses; three piercings for attachment. 278 grams, 20.2 cm
Fine condition.
Old North American collection. Massachusetts, USA, 2005. Property of a Suffolk gentleman. -
Post Medieval Weight Group
18th-20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £39
A mixed group of bronze trade and chemists' weights, many with a stamped value, verification marks (e.g. sword for City of London), heater shield and others. 438 grams total, 15-44 mm
Found Suffolk. -
Post Medieval Armorial Ring
16th-17th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £59
A copper-alloy ring with armorial design to the oval bezel, the shoulders engraved with scrolls and other simple geometric forms; hoop repaired. 2.42 grams, 22.55 mm overall, 19.74 mm internal diameter (approximate size British R 1/2, USA 8 3/4, Europe 19.38, Japan 18)
Acquired circa 2010. From an old Essex, UK, collection.