Home > Auctions > 5 - 9 September 2023
Ancient Art, Antiquities, Natural History & Coins
Auction Highlights:
.jpg "Hellenistic Gold Earrings with Lapis and Mother of Pearl")
.jpg "Hellenistic Terracotta Head of a Youth")
.jpg "Neo-Assyrian Bronze Horse Trapping with Eagle-Headed God Nisroch and Winged Supernatural Figures")
Sold for (Inc. bp): £8,450
.jpg "Bronze Age Gold Torc-Shaped Bracelet")
Sold for (Inc. bp): £11,050
Sold for (Inc. bp): £23,400
With quatrefoil body formed as an endless knot; integral suspension loop. 3 grams, 34 mm
Acquired in the 1990s.
Ex property of a German collector.
Cf. the openwork roundels of Viking date from Luistari in Lehtosalo-Hilander, P-L., Luistari II The Artefacts, Helsinki, 1982, fig.26, and more complex Anglo-Saxon mounts in Wilson, D.M., Catalogue of Antiquities of the Later Saxon Period, Volume I: Anglo-Saxon Metalwork 700-1100 in the British Museum, London, 1964, items 105-7.
Acquired in the 1990s.
Ex property of a German collector.
Cf. the openwork roundels of Viking date from Luistari in Lehtosalo-Hilander, P-L., Luistari II The Artefacts, Helsinki, 1982, fig.26, and more complex Anglo-Saxon mounts in Wilson, D.M., Catalogue of Antiquities of the Later Saxon Period, Volume I: Anglo-Saxon Metalwork 700-1100 in the British Museum, London, 1964, items 105-7.
Or strap distributor; formed with four scrolled arms radiating from the quadrants of a central cross; four cylindrical struts to the reverse and a similarly-shaped reverse plate. 17.7 grams, 26 mm
From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s.
From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £33
Composed of a domed upper face decorated with tendrils and other enigmatic motifs; remains of tinning. 14.3 grams, 37 mm
From a 1970s private collection.
Ex private Merseyside, UK, collection.
From a 1970s private collection.
Ex private Merseyside, UK, collection.
.jpg "Anglo-Saxon Gilt Bronze Double-Axe Shield Mount")
Sold for (Inc. bp): £260
With lozengiform central element and T-shaped 'axe' extensions; the lozenge with three-band collars, punched bands to the edges and central quatrefoil motif with pellets to the ends; two thick mounting lugs to the reverse, one with its mounting rove in place. 7.5 grams, 45 mmFine condition.
Found Hertfordshire, UK.
See Dickinson, T.M., 'Symbols of Protection: The Significance of Animal-Ornamented Shields in Early Anglo-Saxon England' in Med.Arch. vol. XLIX, 2005, pp.109-163, fig.13,e; Hammond, B., British Artefacts vol.1 - Early Anglo-Saxon, Witham, 2009, p.75-81, for discussion.
The mount belongs to the typology of symmetrically-shaped fittings with lozengiform or ovoid body. Comparisons might be made with a pair of bichrome fittings from a shield in Sleaford 136. Their ridged, gilded and punched bodies are not unlike that of the Sutton Hoo 018, 868 aquatic mount, but both their originally terminals are triangular or trapezoidal. They are therefore purely geometric, though it is a moot point whether a zoomorphic (aquatic) appearance was intended or given.
Found Hertfordshire, UK.
See Dickinson, T.M., 'Symbols of Protection: The Significance of Animal-Ornamented Shields in Early Anglo-Saxon England' in Med.Arch. vol. XLIX, 2005, pp.109-163, fig.13,e; Hammond, B., British Artefacts vol.1 - Early Anglo-Saxon, Witham, 2009, p.75-81, for discussion.
The mount belongs to the typology of symmetrically-shaped fittings with lozengiform or ovoid body. Comparisons might be made with a pair of bichrome fittings from a shield in Sleaford 136. Their ridged, gilded and punched bodies are not unlike that of the Sutton Hoo 018, 868 aquatic mount, but both their originally terminals are triangular or trapezoidal. They are therefore purely geometric, though it is a moot point whether a zoomorphic (aquatic) appearance was intended or given.
With tear-drop plaque, pierced lug and scoop finial, low-relief geometric ornament. 10.9 grams, 93 mm
From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s.
Cf. Sedov, B.B., Finno-Ugri i Balti v Epokhi Srednevekovija, Moscow, 1987, pl.CVIII (1), for similar item on a chatelaine chain.
In the Finno-Ugrian and Eastern Viking societies the status that an individual might achieve through personal qualities, social position and wealth was enhanced by valuable clothing, finely worked jewellery made of precious metal (like chatelaine chains for women) and, for the men, weapons and horse furnishing of exceptional quality. Families and individuals visually expressed the elements of other societies and cultures that they thought were desirable through the deliberate use of foreign objects.
From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s.
Cf. Sedov, B.B., Finno-Ugri i Balti v Epokhi Srednevekovija, Moscow, 1987, pl.CVIII (1), for similar item on a chatelaine chain.
In the Finno-Ugrian and Eastern Viking societies the status that an individual might achieve through personal qualities, social position and wealth was enhanced by valuable clothing, finely worked jewellery made of precious metal (like chatelaine chains for women) and, for the men, weapons and horse furnishing of exceptional quality. Families and individuals visually expressed the elements of other societies and cultures that they thought were desirable through the deliberate use of foreign objects.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £33
The slender hoop slightly expanded at the bezel, displaying a faux plaited design. 1.63 grams, 22.56 mm overall, 19.87 mm internal diameter (approximate size British O, USA 7, Europe 14.98, Japan 14)
Private collection formed since the 1940s.
UK art market.
Property of an Essex gentleman.
Private collection formed since the 1940s.
UK art market.
Property of an Essex gentleman.
Comprising a gilt equal-arm brooch with chased faces, remains of pin-lug and catchplate to reverse; Norman dagger chape formed as opposed beasts; quatrefoil mount with domed ovals at the centre of to beast heads. 34.4 grams total, 34-46 mm
From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s.
From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £260
The miniature oval-shaped bowl and tapering stem terminating in a trapezoidal panel displaying the god Loki standing facing, hands raised above the head, within a ropework border; two mounting rivets to the reverse. 4.3 grams, 41 mm
From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s.
Loki was the Norse god of mischief, trickery and deception.
From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s.
Loki was the Norse god of mischief, trickery and deception.
Displayed in profile facing right; remains of tinning; remains of pin lug and catchplate to reverse. 5.9 grams, 29 mm
Found Berkshire, UK.
Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.BERK-9B6095.
Found Berkshire, UK.
Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.BERK-9B6095.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £156
The rectangular bar with a cut at each end. 1.42 grams, 14 mm
Acquired on the UK art market.
Property of a Somerset collector, UK, since at least the early 2000s.
Acquired on the UK art market.
Property of a Somerset collector, UK, since at least the early 2000s.
With short chain of doubled links, plaque with high-relief tendril design, bird-head finial and hook to the reverse; part of a female chatelaine assemblage. 16.6 grams, 88 mm
From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s.
Cf. Sedov, B.B., Finno-Ugri i Balti v Epokhi Srednevekovija, Moscow, 1987, pl.CVIII, for similar examples.
From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s.
Cf. Sedov, B.B., Finno-Ugri i Balti v Epokhi Srednevekovija, Moscow, 1987, pl.CVIII, for similar examples.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £59
Elliptical in cross-section with a ring-and-dot eye to each face, ridged coxcomb and upturned muzzle; split flange to the rear to accept a small blade; punched point detailing. 14.7 grams, 33 mm
Acquired in the 1990s.
Ex property of a German collector.
Acquired in the 1990s.
Ex property of a German collector.
Page 84 of 205
997 - 1008 of 2453 LOTS
997 - 1008 of 2453 LOTS
