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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French WWII Trench Periscope
1940s A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £137
Aluminium rotating bodied vertical trench periscope with camouflage finish, marked 'GT=6 / MICRO:GRADES' to one side and M.G. / No.34185' to other, fitted with hinged wood handle; including original leather case with loops for belt/webbing. 1.36 kg, 40 cm
The Kusmirek Collection, UK. -
North Western Persian Bronze Arrowhead Group
12th-10th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £124
Comprising six tanged arrowheads, five with large elongated triangular blades and raised midrib, one with oval shoulders, all with sharp central groove, cylindrical stem with handle for the shaft. 145 grams total, 8-15 cm
Acquired 1980-2015. Ex Abelita family collection.
Some of these arrowheads seems to belong to the type V, subcategory type C, according to the classification of Khorasani and Negahban. In the four categories of triangular bronze arrowheads from Luristan, Marlik and Northern Iran individuated by Negahban, subtypes C and D of type V are larger arrow or javelin heads, C with barbed shoulders and D with round shoulders. -
Post Medieval Lead Musket Ball Group
Circa 17th-18th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £9
Comprising examples with seams and of varying sizes. 1.8 kg total, 11-19 mm
Found Berkshire, UK. -
Very Large Viking Iron Battle Notched Axehead
10th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,184
Featuring an elongated triangular butt, flanged cylindrical socket, slender neck with broad, flaring cheeks; the blade, upper and lower edges notched. 1.36 kg, 28 cm
From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s. -
Sassanian Bronze Spangenhelm
6th-7th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,380
Multi-segmented with an ogival profile, rivetted conical finial and riveted straps running vertically around the circumference; some restoration. 1.14 kg, 23 cm high
UK private collection before 2000. UK art market. Property of a London gentleman. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by searcher certificate no.11589-199700.
The Spangenhelm is a protective headgear made up from segments or plates held together by a frame. As a popular form of helmet it came to prominence in western Europe in the later Roman Empire, and remained in use for some centuries until replaced by helmets formed from a single sheet. -
British Leather Fencing Helmet
Circa 1890-1920s A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £234
By Lillywhite Frowd Co of London, fitted with neck fringe, stamped buckled securing strap and wire mesh face and ear panels, padded lining internally marked 'broad arrow-over-67' so likely a military issue. 2.0 kg, 39 cm
Acquired from Manfred Schotten Antiques, 2016. The Kusmirek Collection, UK. Accompanied by a copy of Manfred Schotten invoice and listing.
Although masks/helmets of this general form are typically associated with sword fencing, this example is of very heavy construction so possibly for use in protecting while training with a heavier weapon than a foil or epee. -
'The Repton' British Viking Iron Bearded Axehead
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,061
Hand-forged with triangular-section narrow blade widening to a broad bevelled edge with square chin, socket with rounded extensions to the rear. 464 grams, 15 cm
Found Repton, Nottingham, UK, in the 1960s. Gary Edwards, York, UK. Private collection, Preston, UK. Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and receipt from Gary Edwards, no.12386.
The bearded axehead were called skeggöks, in Norse language, and had a long edge designated to work split tree-trunks into planks and beams. -
Mughal Jade Archer's Ring with Diamond, Rubies and Emeralds
18th-19th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £390
Carved in mottled pale grey jade with radiating lotus leaves around the central hole, applied gold wire hoop and tendril detailing with two emeralds and six cabochon rubies inset, the central flower with inset teardrop facetted diamond; with a thin crack to the back of the hoop. 15.5 grams, 44.55 mm overall, 21.86 mm internal diameter (approximate size British Z, USA 12 1/2, Europe 28.77, Japan 27).
Formerly in the family collection of a Hampstead gentleman, from the 1980s. Acquired in TimeLine Auctions sale 119, lot 2518. Property of a Kent collector. -
Chinese Style Bronze Ceremonial Halberd Sceptre Head
20th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £29
The leaf-shaped head displaying sinuous openwork animals on either side, rectangular collar with etched ornament, possibly a nameplate, repeated on both faces, a feline to one side and a flat-section arrow to the other, tubular socket below. 293 grams, 28 cm
Acquired in Germany. Property of RWM Collection.
During the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.), Chinese warfare evolved. Kings and princes were replaced on the battlefield by infantries lead by military generals. New arms and armour were invented, including the halberd and crossbow. This sceptre head has a spearhead finial that features an openwork motif that is both decorative as well as functional, since it decreases the weight of the bronze, making the spear cheaper to produce and lighter to use. -
Anglo-Saxon 'Norfolk' Iron Socketted Spearhead
6th-7th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £172
With lentoid-section lanceolate blade, tapering circular socket with forge-welded split. 134 grams, 25.3 cm
Found Norfolk, UK, in the 1970s. Gary Edwards, York, UK. Private collection, Preston, UK. Accompanied by a certificate of authenticity and receipt from Gary Edwards, no.SN12480.
The spearhead belongs to the C2 group of the Swanton's classification, by far the commonest leaf-shaped blade found in Anglo-Saxon graves in 6th and 7th centuries A.D. These spears have their broadest part in the lower half, and are lentoid in section. Length varies between 20 and 35 cm. -
Viking Iron Bearded Axehead
10th-12th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £208
Featuring a sub-triangular socket, rectangular butt and bearded head with convex cutting edge. 563 grams, 14.6 cm
From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s. -
German WWII Stick Grenade Group
1914-1945 A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £221
German practice stick grenade group including: a WWII model 24 Stielhandgranate with pierced red-coloured head; together with a restored relic head of WWI date. 684 grams, 44.5 cm
Acquired from The Lanes Armoury, Brighton, and Graham Currie Militaria. The Kusmirek Collection, UK. Accompanied by copies of the listings.
The brb-code name for Richard Rinker GmbH, was used for training German armed forces during WWII. Its distinctive appearance lead to it being dubbed the stick grenade' or 'potato masher' in British army slang. It used a friction igniter, with a pull cord running through the hollow wooden handle terminating in a porcelain ball.