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.

Naturalistically modelled and coloured blue, hieroglyphs on base; pierced for suspension.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Of solid heavy penannular form, round in section with clubbed terminals.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Comprising complete and fragmentary artefacts including: crotal bells; clothes clasps; finger rings; heart-shaped mounts; furniture fittings; purse bars and other miscellaneous items, including gilt examples. 680 grams total, 14-60 mm



Found Berkshire, UK.

Hollow-formed with Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus and a globe, border of triangular radiating flames, openwork crown. 1530 grams, 16 cm high



Private collection, Auvergne, Central France. Daguerre Societe de Ventes Volontaires, 12 December 2016, lot 50. Ex central London gallery.

Circular in plan with a domed upper face, decorated with rectangular notches either side of a central band. 20 grams, 45 mm



From the collection of a Northern Ireland gentleman. Ex private Merseyside, UK, collection.

Sheet gold strip with applied lop to the apex. 0.83 grams, 15 mm



Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.

Comprising small scythes and knife blades of various types. 1.75 kg total, 11-24 cm



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

A variety of 14th and 15th century forms of knives are represented here including several with stepped backs. In the 14th century the blades of the knives became to be longer and thinner and frequently marked.

Engraved with two crosses fourchée within a circular frame, flanking crescents. 2.36 grams, 22.74mm overall, 20.30mm internal diameter (approximate size British R 1/2, USA 8 3/4, Europe 19.38, Japan 18)



English collection, 1980s. Acquired on the UK art market. Ex property of an Essex gentleman. Ex private Merseyside, UK, collection.

The use of seals became more and more essential during the time when the majority of the population was illiterate; the use of signet rings continued until after the fall of Rome in the West. With the establishment of heraldry, the armorial signet was generally adopted by all those entitled to bear arms. A considerable proportion of medieval rings were signets, with portraits, names or monograms, and emblems such as the cross, most of these having the designs cut in a metal bezel.

Comprising hunting, butcher's domestic and other blade types, including examples with serrated blades and sickles. 3.1 kg total, 18-42 cm



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

Aside from the actual cut marks that are observed on animal bones following archaeological excavation, the butchery implements found from the medieval period are of considerable importance. The cut marks seem to indicate a more refined style of butchery with less use of the cleaver for disarticulation and a greater reliance on knives. The defining characteristic of the butchery knives is that they were sharp-edged and likely to have been made in much the same way as the cleavers, i.e. with a steel edge to maintain sharpness.

Discoid with central lion rampant, legend to the rim: 'FRANGE LEGE TEGE' MEANING 'break (the seal), read the contents of the letter/document under the seal, conceal (ditto)'. 4.91 grams, 22 mm



Found St Osyth, Essex, UK.

Shield-shaped, discoid and rectangular in broad form, displaying floral, star and other enigmatic motifs. 609 grams total, 35-58 mm



Ex Simmons Gallery, London E11, UK, in the 1990s. From a North London collection.

The circular die bearing the letter 'S' surrounded by plant fronds, hexagonal stem terminating in a collared loop with trilobate top; accompanied by an impression. 9.7 grams, 26 mm



Found Berkshire, UK. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.BERK-9D4B93.

Comprising: horse harness elements, knives and other miscellaneous objects including keys. 6.5 kg total, 1.2-34 cm



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

Double-looped medieval buckles were often formed of a D-shape and a more and less smaller rectangle. During the Renaissance they often were realised with a moulded rosette on the edge of both D-shaped loops.

Including blades and handles of various types and dates, some with decorative elements. 1.29 kg total, 5-22 cm



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

The folding knives are distinguished by the absence of a tang, which sometimes can be replaced by a thumb piece. Usually there is a hole piercing the blade for the pivot to fasten the blade to the handle.