Auction Highlights
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Egyptian Fishtail Flint Knife
Sold for (Inc. bp): £7,150
Knapped bifacial tan knife with fishtail butt to receive a hilt; the rounded tip tapering and flaring along the edges; with a custom-made display stand. -
Egyptian Stone Scarab Inscribed for Tutankhamun
Sold for (Inc. bp): £6,500
Naturalistically modelled and coloured blue, hieroglyphs on base; pierced for suspension. -
Greek Marble Funerary Anthemion Stele
Sold for (Inc. bp): £17,550
Comprising a tall, plain body with two rosettes; crowned by an elaborate palmette and volute design with shallow acanthus stalks and small rosettes; mounted on a custom-made display stand. -
Corinthian Black-Figure Aryballos with a Lion
Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,900
The squat oil flask with slender neck and broad everted rim, painted with rosette petals around the mouth and base, spots encircling the rim, horizontal stipes to the strap handle, vegetal motifs and the forequarters of a roaring lion to one face of the body. -
Greek Tarentine Terracotta Head of a Youth
Sold for (Inc. bp): £5,720
Possibly depicting Ganymede or Paris, wearing a soft Phrygian cap with everted brim, the hair swept back from the face; almond-shaped eyes with pronounced eyelids, straight nose and fleshy lips; mounted on a custom-made display stand. -
Campanian Red-Figure Neck-Amphora with Cavalryman
Sold for (Inc. bp): £10,400
The piriform body with broad, stepped rim and two round-section handles; red-figure frieze depicting two standing women facing, wearing a himation and stephane; the other side with a nude standing warrior wearing an Apulo-Corinthian helmet, holding the reins of his horse, acanthus leaves, ovolo and wave motifs to the neck and lower body; probably from a Cuma workshop. -
Hellenistic Gold Earrings with Lapis and Mother of Pearl
Sold for (Inc. bp): £19,500
Comprising a shallow disc with central flower motif inlaid with carnelian and lapis lazuli, surrounded by a beaded border, the outer pearled border inlaid with mostly replicant lapis lazuli, and mother of pearl inserts; three pendants to the lower edge, two with chain and carnelian bead, the central pendant formed as a miniature amphora with filigree, repaired; housed in a custom-made display box. -
Hellenistic Terracotta Head of a Youth
Sold for (Inc. bp): £18,200
Tousled curly hair, strong aquiline nose and full mouth; the deep eyes marked by raised eyelids and prominent semi-circular eyebrows; the hair arranged in overlapping rows of locks; repaired; mounted on a later porphyry plinth. -
Roman Terracotta Foot Lamp
Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,380
Mould-made and shaped as a sandaled left foot, filling-hole surrounded by a ridge in the ankle area, the sandal with two leather straps tied together near the ankle, wick-hole in the big toe; inscription 'ƩΑΛΣΙϹ' to the base, heel chipped. -
Roman Polychrome Wall Painting Fragment with Winged Siren
Sold for (Inc. bp): £20,800
Decorated with a frieze of partially preserved acanthus volutes from which emerges a figure of a winged female, possibly a siren, the body and the head of a woman with brown hair, the outstretched wings in pink and yellow; ochre background, cream-coloured line border with a green raised edge (part of the wall) below; mounted on a custom-made display stand. -
Neo-Assyrian Bronze Horse Trapping with Eagle-Headed God Nisroch and Winged Supernatural Figures
Sold for (Inc. bp): £15,600
The left side of a trapping for a horse pulling a chariot, comprising two hammered elements with a hinge; rectangular upper section with a loop to one end, decorated with an eagle-headed genius-demon, wearing a tunic and a fringed kilt, a shawl wrapped around the body, hanging down on the back, carrying a bucket of purifying water in his right hand and a conical pot of incense in his left hand, bracelets to arms, two rows of lotus buds above; the discoid lower section divided in two registers, each with a winged genii in combat with winged bulls; the dividing raised band with fish motifs similar to the border formed of fish; the edges of both elements with punched edges for the attachment of leather lining; Neo-Assyrian or Urartian; mounted on a custom-made display stand. -
Migration Period Iron Sword with Garnet Cross Guard and Scabbard Fittings
Sold for (Inc. bp): £7,150
With a double-edged parallel-sided blade with broad pointed tip; the lower guard inlaid with garnet cloisonné divided into four segments; accompanied by a rectangular scabbard slide inlaid with two rows of garnets and other stone; and a part of a sheet-silver chape. -
Viking Iron Sword with Cross Guard Surmounted by Interlaced Dragons
Sold for (Inc. bp): £8,450
Comprising a double-edged cutting blade with tapering fullers and hefty tang; the bronze cross guard in Jellinge style with dragon head finials and a central human face to the lower edge; the pommel with seven lobes; accompanied by a bronze openwork chape with central bird motif decorated with stamped ring-and-dot design. -
Bronze Age Gold Torc-Shaped Bracelet
Sold for (Inc. bp): £11,050
Of solid heavy penannular form, round in section with clubbed terminals. -
Iberian Celtic 'Axel Guttman' Bronze Warrior Finial
Sold for (Inc. bp): £13,000
With slightly tapering socket and openwork bulb above, discoid platform supporting a mounted warrior modelled in the round; horse with long vertical tail and horizontal reins, bowed legs and scrolls at the hooves; warrior astride the horse with legs bent and feet to the rear, helmet with lateral horns and large swept crest with notched edge; arms bent to show the warrior in the act of drawing his falcata sword from the scabbard worn across his midriff; mounted on a custom-made stand. -
Very Large Celtic Enamelled Bronze Dragonesque Brooch
Sold for (Inc. bp): £4,420
S-shaped with scrolled flourishes to the dragon-head terminals, remains of inlaid blue and red enamelling to the stylised beast heads, wave and lozenge ornament to the body; free-running tongue with head coiled around the neck of one of the creatures; Romano-British. -
Anglo-Saxon Gilt Bronze Chip-Carved Beast Manuscript Mount
Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,380
With high-relief aviform head and wings and looped ornamental swags, knotwork panels in the field; two holes for mounting; possibly a book-mount, Hiberno-Saxon workmanship. -
The High-Status 'Ryedale' Anglo-Saxon Bronze Hanging Bowl Complete with all Four Chip-Carved Mounts
Sold for (Inc. bp): £36,400
An excessively rare and almost complete copper-alloy hanging bowl and associated fittings comprising: (i) the bowl with three attached matching hooked escutcheons and suspension rings (ii) the basal disc (iii) a body fragment (or possible repair patch) (iv) a curved bronze fragment (ii) the basal disc with separate frame (iii) fragment of copper-alloy sheet, possibly forming part of a repair to the base of the bow (iv) a curved copper-alloy strip (iv) four skeletal fragments from a sheep or similar. -
'The Scampton' Published Anglo-Saxon Gilt Bronze Florid Cruciform Brooch
Sold for (Inc. bp): £11,050
Of Martin's Group 4 with rectangular headplate and florid face-masks to the three edges and conical eyes, deep bow with with square central panel, footplate with square lateral lappets, triangular face-mask finial with conical eyes; pin-lug and catchplate to the reverse; gilded surface abraded. -
Superb Anglo-Saxon Gilt Bronze Great Square-Headed Brooch
Sold for (Inc. bp): £11,700
Of Hines's Group X with two discs on the headplate in a rectangular frame surrounded by a frieze of facing human masks, and another mask placed centrally above the junction with the bow; shallow bow with three ribs; curved horse-head lappets flanking a vertical shank with facing mask detailing, discoid lobes and an inverted mask below; pin-lugs to the reverse and solder-scar where the catchplate was attached. -
Medieval Virgin and Child by a Follower of Dirk Bouts
Sold for (Inc. bp): £11,700
Oil on board devotional panel in a gilt wooden frame; the Virgin in a bottle-green gown with gilt collar and cream undershift, crimson mantle; the naked Christ supported on his mother's left hip, his left foot clasped in the interleaved fingers of her right hand; textured gilt field; attributed to a follower of Dirk Bouts. -
Medieval Limoges Bronze and Champleve Enamel Roundel with Fantastical Creature
Sold for (Inc. bp): £23,400
Openwork winged beast to the centre, its tails curling beneath the body creating the foliate tendrils on which it perches, broad outer roundel decorated with geometric plants alternating with lozenges, extensive remains of blue champlevé enamelling; engraved and chiselled; four attachment holes. -
Medieval Gilt Bronze Processional Cross
Sold for (Inc. bp): £16,900
With wooden core to which the embossed sheets have been attached; the obverse with a central nimbate Corpus Christi, an applied rosette above and to the left arm; an angel to the finial of the upper and lower arm with Mary and St John the Evangelist to the side arms; the reverse with a central figure of Jesus holding the Gospel and making the sign of blessing; each finial of the arm with the symbols of the Evangelists (eagle, angel, lion and ox); the cross resting on a floral sphere with a socket below. -
Baroque Gold, Ruby and Enamel Ring
Sold for (Inc. bp): £11,700
Composed of a slender hoop, expanding shoulders decorated with white enamelled foliage and black enamelled pea-pod ornament, repeated around the bezel, bezel with box setting holding a table-cut ruby, white and black enamelled floral design to the underside; minor loss of enamel; likely from France; accompanied by a 'Les Enluminures' hinged presentation box.
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Medieval and Later Dutch Pottery Pit Dug Fragment Group
Circa 15th-17th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £26
Most glazed and from various vessel types, including examples with decoration. 13 kg total, 3-12 cm
Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection. -
Medieval Bronze Knight's Heraldic Horse Harness Pendant Collection
Circa 14th-16th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £78
Comprising: a complete heraldic pendant accompanied by a Portable Antiquities Scheme record, quatrefoil in plan with a triangular tab between each foil creating a central shield bearing a worn heraldic device, possibly azure, a bend cotticed or, with worn remains of red and blue enamelling and trace remains of gilding, dated c.1340-1450; a square fitting displaying an X-motif and remains of gilding, stud to reverse; quatrefoil pendant with occluded loop and crowned shield to centre bearing heraldic device; large square-shaped pendant with broad bar, hatching and body, enigmatic recessed design with remains of blue and red enamelling and gilding; rectangular pendant with bars to one edge, circular piercing to three corners, enigmatic recessed design; fitting comprising two joined openwork discs with stars at the apex and studs to reverses. 71 grams total, 21-57 mm
Found Berkshire, UK. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.BERK-9E41E1. -
Tudor Palimpsest 2 Ounce Weight
15th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £26
Marked for Henry VII or VIII with a Lombardic letter 'h' to the upper face; concentric circles to the reverse, later incised with a large star or sunburst. 50 grams, 51 mm
Acquired on the UK market, 1990s. Property of a retired academic. -
Medieval and Later Bronze Buckle Collection
Circa 12th-20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £39
Comprising a variety of types and seizes from a broad range of timer periods, including decoratively shaped examples, incised ornament and examples retaining their tongues. 300 grams total, 13-44 mm
Found Berkshire, UK. -
Medieval Gold Leaf-Shaped Pendant with Garnet
14th-16th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £140
A sheet-gold leaf with suspension loop and raised central cell inlaid with a polished garnet cabochon. 0.25 grams, 12 mm
From a late Japanese specialist collector, 1970-2000s. -
Medieval Judges Bible Page by Johann Gruninger
Printed 1492 A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £208
Being a single, double-sided leaf from an early printed paper Latin bible for the Book of Judges, chapters 15-18; the text set in two columns of blackletter type with numerous hand-applied rubrications (embellishments) in red, with foliation and other marks; square woodblock versals; printed by Johann Gruninger of Strasbourg with commentary by Nicholas de Lyra. 11 grams, 33 x 24.5 cm
Ex M Cummings collection, UK, 1990s-2000s. Accompanied by a Vulgate Latin text with English translation.
This portion of the Book of Judges tells of Samson slaying a thousand Philistines with the 'jawbone of an ass' together with the betrayal by Delilah, his loss of strength and capture when his hair was cut and and his eventual death by pulling down the pillars. -
Medieval Bronze Heraldic Weight Casing
Late 13th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £78
Globular in form with a sub-triangular projection to apex pierced for suspension; three raised heater-shields to the equator displaying various (worn) heraldic devices, a lion, a spread eagle and an unidentified device; portion of base and lower body lost in antiquity. 137 grams, 61 mm
Found Berkshire, UK. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme record id. BERK-140822.
Official London weights carried the arms of Richard Earl of Cornwall, his son Edmund or the de Clares; the lion rampant, the spread eagle or the chevrons (Ward Perkins (1940: 171-173). -
Large Medieval Personal Lead Seal Matrix of Thomas Wersgurd
12th-13th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £78
Circular in plan with remains of suspension loop, the thick flan bearing a design composed of a central standing bird looking backwards and raising one wing, surrounding Latin legend '+ SIGILL ThOME DA VVERSGVRD' or, 'Seal of Thomas Wersgurd'; accompanied by an impression. 35.2 grams, 42 mm
Found Berkshire, UK. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.BERK-40C486. -
Medieval and Other Standing Lead Weight Collection
Circa 15th century A.D. and laterSold for (Inc. bp): £33
The majority pierced for suspension, with a square base and body tapering towards the apex. 753 grams total, 32-54 mm
Acquired on the UK art market. Property of a Ruislip, UK, gentleman, by inheritance. -
Romanesque Gilt Bronze Beast Mount
11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Modelled in the round beast mount with gaping mouth and bulging eyes, attachment lug to underside. 9.2 grams, 51 mm
‘The Ancient Menagerie Collection’ formerly the property of a Cambridgeshire lady, collected since the 1990s and acquired from auctions and dealers throughout Europe and the USA, now ex London collection. -
Medieval Silver Ring with Cross
Circa 15th-16th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £208
With D-section hoop, expanding shoulders with hatching; the round bezel with a central cross motif within a lozenge, hatched background. 6.35 grams, 20.22 mm overall, 16.83 mm internal diameter (approximate size British M, USA 6, Europe 12.46, Japan 12)
Ex old English collection. London art market, 1980s. -
Medieval Lead Weight Collection
Circa 14th-16th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £26
Primarily discoid ad shield-shaped in plan, displaying floral, cruciform and enigmatic designs in relief. 664 grams total, 35-63 mm
Ex Simmons Gallery, London E11, UK, in the 1990s. From a North London collection.