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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Viking Bronze Jellinge Style Regardant Beast Pendant
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £338
Openwork field with beast and pellets, lappets forming a mesh around the body; integral loop. 10.4 grams, 45 mm
From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s. -
Viking Bronze Zoomorphic Strap End
10th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £20
D-shaped in section with pierced lug to one end supported in the mouth of a beast, pierced flat panel below and second beast-head with open mouth; possibly a belt fitting or part of a horse-harness. 8.7 grams, 49 mm
Found near Grimsby, Humberside, UK, circa 2010. -
Baltic Decorated Bronze Bracelet
9th-10th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £143
With flange to both rims and bifacial ornament, bands of punched pellet and saltire detailing to the edges of each face and the outer rim, pointillé chevron, pellet and other motifs flanking the gap and on the hoop opposite; Latvian-Baltic type. 157 grams, 95 mm
From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s.
The warrior bracelets were very often decorated with symbols of divinities. The zig-zag line here visible are the symbol of Mara, the deity of earth and water and all the creatures within. An insight into her position within the ancient beliefs abound in dainas, and are just as often visually reflected in Latvian ornamental design. This symbol dates back to the Iron Age. -
Viking Age Bronze Coiled Ring
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £33
Composed of an expanded bezel decorated with shallow engraved zigzags arranged into lozenges, the arms tapering to slender coils. 5.16 grams, 24.30 mm overall, 19.78 mm internal diameter (approximate size British S, USA 9, Europe 20, Japan 19)
From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s. -
Viking Bronze Urnes Style Mount Collection
11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £53
Comprising: one C-shaped mount with tendril detailing; two irregular pierced pendants with beast-head suspension lug; one lead master for making pendant moulds. 41.7 grams total, 29-46 mm
From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s.
The comparatively recent finds from Lincoln, Hemel Hempstead and Grantham have considerably augmented the number of objects found in England decorated in the Urnes style, the last art style of the Vikings, and indicate that English metalworkers could produce objects of high quality. The employment of these mounts was probably linked with the fastening of puttees around the calves, the so-called wickelbander. Evidence for similar mounts as fastening pieces comes from Leyre (Danemark) and Novgorod (Ryurik Gorodische), and many other localities. -
Viking Bronze Urnes Style Entwined Beasts Mount
10th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £98
Formed with an openwork design of entwined beasts or an interlace motif in Urnes style; counter-sunk rivet hope to apex; likely a stirrup mount. 18.3 grams, 40 mm
Found Berkshire, UK. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.BERK-0FA732. -
Viking Age Decorated Ring
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £26
Composed of a curved ellipsoidal bezel and overlapping hoop arms, bezel with geometric decoration. 5.06 grams, 24.09 mm overall, 19.73 mm internal diameter (approximate size British T, USA 9 1/2, Europe 21.26, Japan 20)
From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s. -
Viking Age Silver Earring
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
With round-section hook, filigree collars, granulated bulb and flanking panels, openwork panel above. 6.25 grams, 30 mm
From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s. -
Viking Age Bronze Bracelet with Interlaced Design
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £143
D-section with heavy basketwork motif to the outer face. 87 grams, 75 mm
From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s.
The bracelet is the product of Baltic workmanship. Certain Baltic tribes of Lithuania did not have any characteristic ethnographic female adornments, but they were strongly influenced by Scandinavian jewellery. Their range can be described by the archaeologists only on the basis of the distribution of the burial complexes. -
Viking Age Bronze Equal-Arm Brooch Pair
9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £143
With central dome and upturned ends, ribbed and textured detailing to the obverse, catch and pin-lugs to the reverse. 109 grams total, 78-84 mm
From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s.
Equal-armed bronze brooches of this category were found in various graves of Birka’s cemeteries (graves 444, 603, 535, 551, 577 and 483). They were all female graves and these clasps were used to fasten the cloaks in the upper part of the dress. -
Viking Age Bronze Geometric Bracelet
8th-12th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,430
Featuring shallow engraved motifs and raised pellets and faux ropework, the penannular body tapering towards the terminals. 153 grams, 73 mm
From the collection of a North American gentleman, formed in the 1990s.
In the Malmsmyr hoard five moulded silver armlets were found with similar decoration: deep furrows in zig-zag pattern, perforated dots and a striped central trim. The inner sides are smooth, but four of the armlets have a stamp decoration of dots in a cross shape; on two armlets this is in combination with diamond shapes. -
Viking Age Bronze Expandable Ring
Circa 8th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £33
With broad hoop tapering to round-section extensions forming a coiled continuation of the hoop; Baltic Semigallian type. 5.25 grams, 22.88 mm overall, 19.67 mm internal diameter (approximate size British R 1/2, USA 8 3/4, Europe 19.38, Japan 18)
From the collection of Alan Hardcastle. Ex private Merseyside, UK, collection since 2015.