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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Post Medieval 'Thames' Iron Scissors and Shears Group
17th-18th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £39
The scissors articulate with decorative moulding and columns of pricked dots on both sides of the lower body; shears with tapering blades with chamfered lower edges. 45 grams total, 11.2-13 cm
Found Billingsgate spoil from the Thames foreshore, London, UK. -
Agate Necklace Bead Group
20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £65
Composed of a group of spherical banded agate 'eye' beads, each pierced laterally for stringing. 245 grams total, 21-29 mm
UK gallery, early 2000s. -
Tudor 'Thames' Iron Knife Group
16th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £169
Comprising four single-edged knives including one with openwork grip. 112 grams total, 10.5-15 cm
Fair condition.
Found Thames foreshore, London, UK, 1970s-1980s. Ex UK collection. Property of a Hampshire, UK gentleman. -
Elizabethan Period Ceramic Fire Brick Group
Circa 16th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £140
Each displaying a design in relief: a crowned shield; worn design featuring a central lozenge; two facing figures; two armorials with raised designs flanking an object with a tiered base. 7.1 kg total, 13-14 cm
Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection.
These glazed stove or floor tiles are similar to the ones of the great hall and the Tudor kitchens at Hampton Court Palace, made of ceramic, with a glaze to make it hard-wearing and washable. Not just the furnishings, but the palaces themselves were multi-coloured, with brick walls painted red, and exposed timbers in yellow, red, green and white. -
Lead William IV Plaque
Early 1800s A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £39
With King William IV (1830-1837) modelled in the half-round beside a draped table with a crown, holding a scroll or map; horizontal base with abraded legend 'WILLIAM THE FOURTH'. 64 grams, 81 mm
Acquired 1960s-1990s. Late Alison Barker collection, a retired London barrister. -
Post Medieval Dutch Glazed Ceramic Tile Group
Circa 18th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £169
Comprising a variety of glaze colours and tile designs, including buildings and landscapes, ducks, figural scenes, floral motifs. 3.6 kg total, 13 x13 - 13.5 x 13.5 cm
Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection. -
Post Medieval Decorated Pipe Bowl Group
Circa 18th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £26
Including armorials and decorative designs, comprising bowls of various shapes and dates; together with a number of stems. 882 grams total, 35-79 mm
Acquired 1990s-early 2000s. East Anglian private collection. -
Tudor Lead Tax Seal
16th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £39
Discoid in plan with low-relief design of a crown above a sun, fleur-de-lis and rose, within ropework roundel, surrounding legend beginning 'SVB[SIDII PANNORVM]' 21 grams, 40 mm
Acquired on the UK market, 1990s. Property of a retired academic, believed to have been recovered from the Thames foreshore. -
Post Medieval Bronze Spread Eagle Mount
18th-19th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £33
Modelled in the round standing on a domed base, wings outspread, head turned left, stylised detailing to the head and feathers. 20.9 grams, 56 mm
Found Nottinghamshire, UK. -
Achaemenid Style Bronze Dagger with Animal Hilt
20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £143
Addorsed horse heads below the cross-guard, blade curving gently towards the tip, ribbed grip terminating in addorsed horse heads pommel, modelled in the round with semi-naturalistic detailing. 765 grams, 39 cm
Private UK collection, 1991. -
Tibetan Style Giant Carnelian Necklace Bead Group
20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £8
One green-coloured cylindrical bead, a slightly smaller cylindrical bead of banded agate, and a truncated biconical bead with mottled patch, asymmetrical and likely reworked. 87 grams total, 42-56 mm
UK gallery, early 2000s. -
Baroque Gold, Ruby and Enamel Ring
Circa 1620-1640 A.D.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. 4.57 grams, 23.32 mm overall, 18.77 mm internal diameter (approximate size British O, USA 7, Europe 14.98, Japan 14)
Acquired from Les Enluminures Ltd, Illinois, USA, 2016. Property of an East Sussex collector. Accompanied by a Les Enluminures certificate of authenticity. Accompanied by a copy of the Les Enluminures invoice. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11671-197579.
Over the centuries, the ruby became a symbol of the amorous heart and a popular gemstone for betrothal or wedding rings in Western Europe. This gemstone was believed to symbolise the virtues of marriage and convey the desire for eternal matrimonial love. The ruby-red colour was often enhanced by setting the stone on top of a foil. The stones themselves were imported from as far afield as Thailand, Burma and Sri Lanka. Old inventories record them as 'balas rubies', which were sourced to decorate royal crowns. In the 17th century, the red colour was set-off by the pastel shades of satin which were fashionable in dress at the court of King Louis VIII, where the art of enamelling was also practiced.