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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Sassanian Silver Pedestal Cup
5th-7th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £845
Shallow hollow-formed bowl with flat rim, fluted exterior, trumpet-shaped foot. 340 grams, 15 cm wide
H. Soudavar, Paris, France. Acquired Christie's circa 1996. Ex central London gallery. -
Bactrian Polished Black Stone Ritual Object
Circa 3rd-early 2nd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £6,500
Carved in the round and given a slender, biconical form; polished; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 9.1 kg total, 80 cm high including stand
with Gallery Rosen Ancient Art, Tel Aviv, 1969. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11872-206905. -
Gandharan Gold Clad Figural Buddha Bead Group
Circa 1st century B.C.-2nd century A.D. or laterSold for (Inc. bp): £2,470
The majority displaying standing figures in repoussé to both faces of a lozenge-shaped body; five formed as naked male figures with hands clasped in front of the waist; a single bead formed as a full-bodied figure wearing a headdress, one hand held over the pubic region, which is pierced; sheet-gold over bituminous cores; from a ritual headdress; most complete. 78.32 grams total, 34-43 mm
Acquired 1970s onwards. Private collection of Michael O'Hara, Cambridgeshire, UK. Ex private collection of Benjamin Hyde-Smith, Hertfordshire, UK.
Although the Buddha himself never visited Gandhara, with the passage of time the area became a veritable holy land for his followers. Mahayanism – a liberal and progressive school of Buddhism – flourished in Gandhara and laid emphasis among other things, on the transformation of the Buddha into a great mythological, almost eternal, god, and on the deification of future Buddhas as holding providences. In the visual arts, Buddha was permitted for the first time to be represented in human form. -
Western Asiatic Gold Bead Group
Circa 1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,860
Over three-hundred beads of different types, including decorative examples. 14.12 grams total, 1-6 mm
From a late Japanese specialist collector, 1970-2000s. -
Western Asiatic Heavy Gold Bracelet Pair
Circa 12th-14th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £4,680
Each comprising a single gold bar, drawn on both ends to form two wide sections and a length of wire; looped to form a central double bar; the wire coiled around itself to complete the bracelet. 57.21 grams total, 73 mm each
Acquired on the London art market in the 1980s. Ex Ward collection, UK. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11874-200695. -
Western Asiatic Stone Animal Seal
Circa 2nd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £624
Triangular in profile with suspension hole at the apex, underside with ropework border interrupted by a recumbent stag with large antlers facing a palm tree. 308 grams total, 10.2 cm wide including stand
From the private collection of the late Mr S.M., London, UK, 1969-1999; thence by descent. -
Luristan Bronze Pin with King Holding Animals
13th-7th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,210
The oval head displaying a repoussé scene composed of a winged 'Master of Animals' figure standing at centre holding an animal in each outstretched hand; tapering round-section stem with collars towards the upper body; tip of pin stem absent; accompanied by a custom-made backing board. 134 grams total, 32 cm including stand
Ex London, UK, gallery, 1980s. -
Western Asiatic White Agate and Gold Bead Necklace
Late 1st millennium B.C. and laterSold for (Inc. bp): £780
Restrung designer necklace with a modern clasp; composed mainly of polished and graduated agate beads, together with central oval pendant bead and gold beads. 63 grams, 41 cm long
Collected from 1979-1999. From the collection of the late Mr S.M., London, UK. -
Western Asiatic Mottled Pink Stone Jar
4th-3rd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,380
Of squat globular form with broad everted rim and rounded base; series of circular recesses to interior base. 3.47 kg, 17.5 cm wide
Acquired from an American collector in Europe, 2002. European collection. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11875-206527. -
Jewish Stone Shekel Weight Set
9th-7th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,340
Comprising four graduated weights based on the shekel; at least one example with incised markings. 45.3 grams total, 16-26 mm
Collected from 1969-1999. From the collection of the late Mr S.M., London, UK. -
Etrusco-Italic Breastplate with Mythical Animal
5th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £4,680
Displaying a repoussé horned animal advancing right, two roundels composed of bulbous rivets flanking the animal and encircling the central design; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. 626 grams total, 28.5 cm high including stand
Collection of Jacques and Henriette Schumann, formed between 1950 and 1970. The Schumanns inherited part of their collection from Henriette’s parents, Alice and Fernand Halphen, andjacques’ maternal grandfather, Albert Lehmann. Collection of Jacques and Henriette Schumann, Christie's, Paris, 30th September 2003, lot 85. Accompanied by a copy of a French cultural passport no.107322. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11877-207824.
This type of armour, composed from a bronze breast and back plate with hinged shoulder straps, all the parts backed with iron, was used by Etruscans, Hernici, Aequi and Volsci, the feared enemies of early Rome. In particular our item has many parallels with the disc-cuirass (cardiophylax) found in the Necropolis of Alfadena. -
Villanovan Bronze Breast Plate
Circa 7th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,990
Featuring a central circular void and a series of concentric triangular-section ridges and incorporating an X or cross motif; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. 1.36 kg total, 32.6 cm high including stand
with H. Cahn, Basel. Subsequently Tajan auction, 8 February 2008, lot 251.