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Ancient Art, Antiquities, Natural History & Coins

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Auction Highlights:

Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,900
Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,950
Sold for (Inc. bp): £7,800
Sold for (Inc. bp): £5,850
Sold for (Inc. bp): £16,900
Sold for (Inc. bp): £11,440
Sold for (Inc. bp): £4,160
Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,900
Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,640
Sold for (Inc. bp): £9,100
Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,080
Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,860
Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,950
Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,640
Sold for (Inc. bp): £23,400
Sold for (Inc. bp): £9,750
Sold for (Inc. bp): £4,680
Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,860
Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,380
Sold for (Inc. bp): £11,700
Modelled with the legs folded and bound beneath the body, head turned along the flank, slot to the underside. 9.46 grams, 30 mmFine condition.

Acquired 1969-1999.
London collection of the late Mr S.M., thence by descent.

Roughly pillow-shaped and bearing ruled lines and text to both principal faces; repaired. 166 grams, 89 mm

Specialised collection of cuneiform texts, the property of a London gentleman and housed in London before 1992.
Thence by descent to family members.

Examined by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert FBA (1926-2011), historian, archaeologist, and specialist in Assyriology and Near Eastern archaeology, in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
This small collection is exceptional for the variety of types, including some very rare and well preserved examples.

Lot No. 1010
4
Sold for (Inc. bp): £26
Melon-shaped with hole for suspension. 1.79 grams, 26 mm

London private collection, 1979-1983.

Uncleaned, composed of two decoratively twisted hoops, terminals formed as two facing lion (or lioness) heads supporting the bezel, a twisted roundel, in their mouths, central bifacial swivel plaque displaying a menorah flanked by letters 'W-T' on both faces; articulate join between hoops and animal heads. 40 grams, 73 mm wide

Acquired before 1988.
From the collection of a deceased collector.

Lot No. 1014
6
Sold for (Inc. bp): £221
Of various types including: a large coin-shaped bead; facetted beads; tear-shaped bead; amorphous beads and others. 76 grams total, 9-66 mm

Ex Robin Symes Gallery, pre 1999.

Comprising cylindrical lapis lazuli, and assorted other beads of different origins including Venetian glass. 107 grams total, 8-34 mmFine condition.

Acquired in the 1980s-1990s.
Previously with Mansour Gallery, London W1.
Property of a North West London gentleman.

To two faces of the lentoid-section tablet. 29.3 grams, 39 mm

Specialised collection of cuneiform texts, the property of a London gentleman and housed in London before 1992.
Thence by descent to family members.
Examined by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert FBA (1926-2011), historian, archaeologist, and specialist in Assyriology and Near Eastern archaeology, in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The collection is exceptional for the variety of types, including some very rare and well preserved examples.

Each of the six fragments bearing cuneiform text or pictograms to at least one face. 93 grams total, 24-46 mm

Specialised collection of cuneiform texts, the property of a London gentleman and housed in London before 1992.
Thence by descent to family members.

Examined by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert FBA (1926-2011), historian, archaeologist, and specialist in Assyriology and Near Eastern archaeology, in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
This small collection is exceptional for the variety of types, including some very rare and well preserved examples.

Lot No. 1018
3
Sold for (Inc. bp): £130
The fan-shaped cheeks leading to a convex cutting edge; rounded butt and flat in section. 120 grams, 22 cm

Acquired 1980-2015.
Ex Abelita family collection.

Lot No. 1019
5
Sold for (Inc. bp): £208
Mainly comprising socketted axeheads, adze-axes, wedges and other items; some stamped with maker's marks. 11.7 kg total, 14-27.5 cm

Acquired 1990s-early 2000s.
East Anglian private collection.

Egg-shaped ceramic vessel with domed filler-hole, impressed rings and raised vertical flanges to the shoulder; intended to be filled with explosive liquid and wick, used as a hand grenade. 565 gram, 13 cm

Ex London, UK, collection, 1990s.

Accompanied by an academic paper by military specialist Dr Raffaele D'Amato, dated 15 July 2019 and titled 'Eastern Roman Empire - Greek Fire Bomb or Hand Grenade (μεσαίον kακάβιον) 9th-11th century AD'.

Cf. Arendt, W. I., Granaten des 13-14. Jahrhunderts, die an der Wolga gefunden sind, Zeitschrift fur Historische Waffen-und Kostumkunde, 11 (1926-8), p.42; cf. Arendt, W., Die Spharisch-konischen Gefasse aus Gebranntem Ton, ibid; cf. Ayalon, D., Gunpowder and Firearms in the Mamluk Kingdom, London, 1956, p.16.

Apart from the use of siphons or manual flame-throwers called cheirosiphona, special corps of Roman soldiers employed terracotta grenades, in the form of small jars, abundantly evidenced in archaeological excavations. Such were the γανωτα, vessels (sometimes also of bronze) used for Greek fire. They were called μεσαία kακαβιά or κυτροκακάβια where the former had a bulbous shape and the latter a more cylindrical form.
Stamped to one cheek; triangular socket, hammer-shaped back. 2.1 kg, 23 cm

Acquired 1990s-early 2000s.
East Anglian private collection.

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