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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Stone Age Danish Neolithic Knapped Flint Axe
Circa 3rd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £416
In veined amber-coloured flint, bifacially knapped with convex cutting edge tapering with squared sides and butt; likely from the early Single Grave culture. 750 grams, 16.5 cm
Found Sealand, Denmark. From the private collection of a County Durham, UK, gentleman. -
Stone Age French Variegated Grey Flint Limande Handaxe
Palaeolithic Period, circa 300,000 B.P.Sold for (Inc. bp): £416
Knapped with a rounded butt and convex cutting edge. 408 grams, 15.3 cm
Private collection established since the 1950s. From the collection of a South West London, UK, collector. -
Stone Age Danish Type 1b Brown Flint Stiletto Dagger
Neolithic Period, circa 2250 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £650
Several inked inscriptions in black to the reverse: 'Denmark / Ex-Richard / Britton / 7-13' and 'HZZ' ALSO '30' AND in white 'CC-70532'. 53 grams, 15.5 cm
Previously with Lord McAlpine of West Green. The property of Richard Britton. From a U.S.A. private collection. From the collection of a South West London, UK, collector. -
Stone Age Danish Type Via Grey Flint Stiletto Dagger
Neolithic Period, circa 1500 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £650
To the obverse an inked inscription in white: 'CC-70539', and to verso inked inscriptions in black: Denmark / Ex-Richard / Britton / 7-13' and 'HYY'. 61 grams, 14.6 cm
Previously with Lord McAlpine of West Green. The property of Richard Britton. From a U.S.A. private collection. From the collection of a South West London, UK, collector. -
Stone Age Knapped Flint Hand Axe
Lower Palaeolithic Period, circa 400,000-200,000 B.P.Sold for (Inc. bp): £715
Of triangular form with slightly flattened tip and rounded butt; with printed and inked 'MADIJEN / EI:190M / THEBES / 1905' find spot label; with custom-made display stand. 290 grams total, 16 cm including stand.
Found Thebes, 1905. British private collection. -
Stone Age Polished Mottled Greenstone Axehead
Neolithic, 6th-4th millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £546
With a broadly wedge-shaped plan and rounded surfaces, convex cutting edge and natural butt; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. 729 grams total, 24 cm high including stand
Acquired UK market. Property of a Kent collector. -
Stone Age Danish Type 1a Brown Flint Dagger
Neolithic Period, circa 2150 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £468
To the obverse an inked inscription in black: 'DENMARK / DD. 37. HF' and to verso a label: 'DENMARK / DEN.125' and another with collection number: '65-19'; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. 80 grams total, 18.3 cm high including stand
Ex F.S. Clarke collection. Acquired from a UK gallery. From the collection of a South West London, UK, collector. -
Stone Age Pierced Battle Axe-Hammer
3rd-2nd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £312
With rounded butt and convex sides, pierced for attachment to the handle. 921 grams, 18 cm
Found near Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK, by the vendor's father. Property of a Suffolk lady.
Axe-hammers like this one were used in felling trees to create fields from the natural woodland, and in shaping timber for building. The great number of stone axes and axe-hammers from Nordic European areas are a measure of how densely populated some parts of the Europe had become by five thousand years ago. -
'The Braintree' Bronze Age Axehead and Foundry 'Carp's Tongue/Ewart Phase' Hoard
Deposited circa 900-800 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,380
Being an entire 'founder' hoard deposit comprising: complete socketted axes (6; three with linear ornament to sockets); fragments of socketted and earlier type palstave axes (18, including two that fit together); fragments of other items (4) and pieces of copper 'bun' ingot (8). 5.20 kg total, 2-11 cm
Found whilst searching with a metal detector in Braintree, Essex, UK, on 14th August 2019. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.BM-C514EA and with a copy of the Harwich Museum loan form. Disclaimed under the Treasure Act with reference number 2019 T731.
The composition of this hoard is quite typical of similar deposits found across south-eastern England and dating to the Late Bronze Age; most such finds include broken fragments together with pieces of ingot and some complete items, as seen here. It is unusual to see an entire deposit offered together as most such are either held in museums or have been divided up. -
Bronze Age Gold Torc-Shaped Bracelet
Early 1st millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £11,050
Of solid heavy penannular form, round in section with clubbed terminals. 173 grams, 93 mm wide
From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11879-200623. -
Huge Bronze Age Spiral Brooch
850-750 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £5,200
Formed as four coils of rod radiating around a central disc with pointillé decoration; substantial pin and catch to the reverse; mounted on a custom-made stand. 567 grams total, 23 cm high including stand
From the collection of Dr. Peter W. Biertz (1914-2000), Wolsfeld, Germany, by August 1990. Recorded in a letter from Dr Hans Nortmann, Rhein, Landesmuseum Trier, 8 August 1990. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.11880-207712. -
Bronze Age Decorated Sceptre Head
1200-1000 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,860
The stem composed of two vertically arranged bicones, conical knop to chest, collar and broad everted head above, two downwards-directed tapering round-section arms; mounted on a custom-made display base. 621 grams total, 29.5 cm wide including stand
Acquired in Europe before 2000. Private collection, Europe.