Auction Highlights
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Egyptian Relief with List of Offerings
Sold for (Inc. bp): £18,200
A section of tomb wall with a central register of eight rectangular panels each containing hieroglyphs naming offerings for the deceased; the top and bottom groups of eight rectangular panels each contain a depiction of a kneeling offering-bearer; all carved in high-relief; mounted on a custom-made display stand. -
Greek Red-Figure Hydria with Combat Scene Between Amazons and Greek or Trojan Heroes
Sold for (Inc. bp): £7,800
The vessel with integral round-section upward-facing handles, a third, round-section handle placed vertically between shoulder and upper neck to rear; laurel sprigs to the neck with traces of gilding; combat scene with Amazons (and Trojans?) below, armed with short swords and crescent shields, most wearing an exomis leaving the shoulder and one breast uncovered; volute palmettes below both side-handles, a panel of tiered and swirling volutes to the rear, all on a band of egg-moulding, repeated around the rim; possibly Apulian or Campanian; restored. -
Greek Silver Wine Strainer
Sold for (Inc. bp): £16,900
Composed of a shallow bowl and broad flange rim, two integral scalloped handles with scrolled flourishes, tapering to a loop handle with swan head terminals each with incised eye and beak detailing; perforated whirl within roundel to interior base; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. -
Eastern Roman Bust of the Daughter of Aqima
Sold for (Inc. bp): £37,700
Modelled in the round with a fragment of stand to the rear; the figure carefully carved to exhibit the delicate facial features and elaborate hairstyle; the palla drawn up over the head and falling over the shoulders to the upper arms; a diadem to the brow with foliage and tendril detailing; elaborate earrings with dangles; necklace of fusiform and tubular beads and a longer one below with piriform plaques; large disc brooch to the left breast with dangles; peplos-style dress draped across the body beneath the palla; left arm bent and hand passing across the body to grasp the hem of the palla with a herringbone bracelet at the wrist; the palla displayed pinned with rosettes to the rear panel; with inscription of thirteen Palmyrene characters above the left shoulder 'NRW' // BRT // 'QM' // ḤBL' meaning 'daughter of Aqima'; traces of red and green pigment; mounted on a custom-made stand by Colin Bowles Ltd. -
Eastern Roman Mosaic Depicting a Bird
Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,860
In a rectangular matrix; cream, olive, pink and other tesserae depicting a bird advancing with head bowed, with banded frame. -
Roman Marble Head of a Germanic Warrior
Sold for (Inc. bp): £28,600
Modelled naturalistically in the round, directing his gaze upwards left, the eyes with sculpted pupils originally decorated with stone insertions, his face framed by voluminous short curls swept up off the forehead, sideburns and a moustache. -
Eastern Roman Mosaic Depicting a Bird
Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,860
In a rectangular matrix; cream, olive, pink and other tesserae depicting a perching bird with rosette above. -
Monumental Byzantine Limestone Chi Rho Roundel
Sold for (Inc. bp): £36,400
Divided into six sections by Christogram letters chi and rho, two of the segments with Greek letters alpha and omega, the other four segments with floral ornaments; a laurel wreath to the edge; mounted on a custom-made display stand. -
Old Babylonian Clay Cuneiform Tablet, a Letter From a Local Governor in Arrapha to His Colleague in Ešnunna,
Sold for (Inc. bp): £8,450
Written across two principal faces and three side edges, reading: 1-2) Say to Zakur-ahum, thus says Uzazza, your brother. 3) I have read the tablet you sent me. You wrote to me as follows: 4-5)'Five nomadic Suteans plundered the district of Zippat and I sent a troop. 6-7) I drove them back. I prevented them from taking anything. 7-8) So this troop left empty-handed. It is to be feared that they will go to the land of Arrapha and raise havoc, take action!' 11) This is what you wrote to me, and I rejoiced greatly. 12) In your tablet is written:'500 nomadic Suteans'. 13) Now, your servants whom you sent to me told me this: 14) 'A troop of 1,500 men has come. 15) Among them were many men with bows.'16 This is what they told me. Now never 17) have there been archers among the nomad-Suteans. 18) Is it not to be feared that the heavily-equipped 19) part of a foreign army is here itself comprising the nomad-Suteans with their bows? 20) The (result of the) divination I found said: 'Fire will devour the base of the reed.' 21) [...] its ... will not reach me. 22-23) [Now], shall I rejoice over the heavily equipped troop (that is) there? 24) [...]. 25-26) Now investigate this troop. 26-27) Send a full report urgently one way or the other, 28-29) so that I may circulate [a swift messenger] so that 29-30) the whole country may be gathered [in my fortresses] and so that I may take action. 31-33) Moreover, earlier, nomadic Suteans assaulted the palace cowherds one evening and 33-34) carried away all the cows from the palace. They left nothing behind. 35-36) There are none left, including the cows they had been entrusted with that evening. The next day, 37) a rescue troop (sent) by Ašrum, in pursuit of them 38) went as far as the banks of the Euphrates, but 39 returned empty-handed. 39) Another thing, 40) concerning what you wrote to me: 41-42) 'Looters set up a siege instrument- kalbanatum against a fortified farm and killed people. In addition, they carried off ten oxen. 43) And Ašrum went in there. Check that 44 their oxen no longer disappear.' This is what you wrote to me. 45-46) Now, shall I rejoice in this matter, or shall I [not] [...] them [...]. 47-48) Now, is there a plunderer who can plunder on my watch? Now, when I hear (about them) 49-50) and as soon as I send a message, do I not put them on the pal? No doubt 51-52) these people are foreigners, but you consider them to be Arrapha inhabitants! Now, precisely according to what you've written to me, 53-54) I'm going to send a fast messenger to the very interior of Arrapha and carry out a check. ; repaired. -
Uruk Clay Pictographic Tablet Bearing an Economic Text Relating to Farm Produce
Sold for (Inc. bp): £9,100
Written over two faces; lentoid cross-section. -
Italic Bronze Triple-Disc Cuirass
Sold for (Inc. bp): £9,360
Matched pair of Samnite triangular breast and backplates, a suite of 'triple-disc' type, each with three repoussé panels with carinated rim, flat spandrel above and curved on the lower sides, with perforated edges to affix to a separate mail garment; rivetted loops to the shoulders for attachment of supporting straps, and similar lateral loops with portion of round-link chain in situ; mounted on a custom-made stand. -
Roman Bronze Legionary Helmet with Inscription
Sold for (Inc. bp): £9,100
Montefortino helmet with bulbous domed skull and a plain crest knob with flattened top; plain and flat neck guard with thickened rim; the front with punched Latin inscription 'A N CFN'; the surface largely covered in marine encrustations; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. -
Exceptional Neolithic Flint Dagger
Sold for (Inc. bp): £5,980
Finely knapped lentoid-section dagger with lateral recesses and square butt; old collector's label '281'. -
Massive Stone Age British Bifacial Lanceolate Flint Handaxe
Sold for (Inc. bp): £10,400
Long blade with small portion of cortex at the upper end, sharply tapering point with edges worked from both sides. -
Viking Age or Earlier Hacked Gold Trade Ingot
Sold for (Inc. bp): £3,120
A slightly bent irregular bar of hacked gold with rectangular cross-section, showing evidence of compression and fracture to each end, some subtle transverse lines on both of the main surfaces. -
Anglo-Scandinavian Viking Bronze Three-Dimensional Urnes Stirrup Apex Mount
Sold for (Inc. bp): £6,500
The substantial heater-shaped plaque with spectacular openwork Urnes style design, the standing beast with entwined tendrils, pronounced head at the apex, narrow ledge to the reverse and rivet holes to each corner with two rivets remaining. -
Medieval Glass Beaker with Prunts
Sold for (Inc. bp): £7,800
Of tubular form with flared rim and applied collar to the foot, applied trails to the sidewall and four rows of prunts with applied blue-glass ornament. -
Medieval Gold Ring Set with Gemstones
Sold for (Inc. bp): £4,160
With a slender D-section hoop, bevelled rectangular cell set with a garnet cabochon; satellite settings at the corners, each with a green cabochon (one absent), the ring preserved in the same condition as it was when found. -
'The Fressingfield' Medieval Gold Ring with Diamond
Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,860
With plain circular hoop and square diamond-shaped bezel with replicant natural diamond crystal. -
'The Wingham' Gold 'Fortune Favours the Brave' Posy Ring
Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,080
Broadly rectangular in cross-section and constructed from two sheets of gold; the external hoop carrying an etched decorative design comprised of a row of eight-armed stars in relief with a prominent horizontal line connecting the stars; the internal hoop with Latin inscription in block capitals reading '+FORTES FORTVNA IVVAT' translating to 'fortune favours the brave/strong'; straightened.
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Egyptian Banded Alabaster Alabastron
Late Period, 664-332 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £780
With a tapering honey-coloured piriform body and rimmed mouth, incised circumferential line on the shoulder; accompanied by a display stand. 322 grams, 14 cm high including stand
Ex Charlie Chaplin collection. Private New York State collection, U.S.A. Acquired from a North American auction 27 October 2009. Private collection of Professor Kenneth Graham, London, UK. Accompanied by the original catalogue page. -
Large Egyptian Faience Djed Pillar Amulet
Late Period, 664-332 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £845
Olive-green glazed composition amulet with ribbed panel, flared base; mounted on a custom-made stand. 78 grams total, 12.5 cm high including stand
Ex Phillipps collection, with old labels to verso. Private collection of Mr T.H., Norfolk, UK.
The djed pillar signifies the concepts of 'permanence' and 'stability' and was a common funerary amulet from the Old Kingdom onwards. It was first associated with the gods Ptah and Sokar, but later became a symbol of Osiris, representing the god's backbone. In this context, the djed pillar appears in Chapter 155 of the Book of the Dead, concerned with the resurrection of the deceased. -
Large Egyptian Triad Faience Amulet
Late Period, 664-332 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,600
Olive-green glazed composition amulet with triad of deities: Isis and Nephthys wearing their usual headdresses, flanking Harpocrates with his side-lock; all three with hands joined; ribbed suspension loop above. 45 grams, 62 mm
Part of an old collection dating back to the 19th century. Ex property of a gentleman, acquired before the 1980s. Private collection of Mr T.H., Norfolk, UK. -
Egyptian Limestone Miniature Obelisk with Hieroglyphs
Late Period, 664-332 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £5,460
With tapering sides and pointed top, incised vertical column of hieroglyphic text to one face: ẖry-ḥbt ḳbḥ ḥtp mr-mšꜥ imn, ''lector-priest' (give) purified offering (to the) general of the army (of) Amun'; mounted on a custom-made stand. 444 grams total, 21 cm high
Acquired in Egypt in the early 20th century. Private collection of Mr T.H., Norfolk, UK.
In ancient Egypt, it was common for small obelisks like this one to be placed on either side of the entrance to private tombs. Typically inscribed on one side only, these obelisks held great solar religious significance and were closely associated with the cult of the sun-god Re. They symbolised the ancient Egyptians' belief in the rebirth of the deceased, with the moment of revivification being characterised by the individual's face being illuminated by the rays of the rising sun. It was said that, at that moment, the deceased was able to "open their sight to see the sun-god," as one religious text explains. -
Egyptian Relief with List of Offerings
Late Old Kingdom, 5th-6th Dynasty, 2495-2181 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £18,200
A section of tomb wall with a central register of eight rectangular panels each containing hieroglyphs naming offerings for the deceased; the top and bottom groups of eight rectangular panels each contain a depiction of a kneeling offering-bearer; all carved in high-relief; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 40 kg total, 74 cm wide
North American gallery, 1981-1990s. with Pierre Bergé & Associés, Paris, France, 1st December 2007, lot 384. London collection, 2016. Accompanied by an academic report by Egyptologist Paul Whelan. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11942-209839. -
Egyptian Wooden Tomb Servant
Middle Kingdom, late 11th-early 12th Dynasty, 2010-1961 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,040
Carved in the round with separate articulated arms, painted facial details and wearing a short linen kilt; slightly bent posture, feet pegged to a rectangular base; wooden implement for beating flax in the left hand. 140 grams, 23 cm high
From an early 20th century collection. Ex UK collection. Ex Ancient Art, London N14, UK. Private collection of Mr T.H., Norfolk, UK. Accompanied by a previous dealer's certificate of authenticity. -
Egyptian Wooden Male Figure
Third Intermediate Period, circa 1070-730 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £598
Striding on a rectangular base, wearing a belted kilt, bag wig and with short beard; mounted on a custom-made display stand. 19 grams total, 11 cm high including stand
Part of an old collection dating back to the 19th century. Ex property of a gentleman, acquired before the 1980s. Private collection of Mr T.H., Norfolk, UK. -
Egyptian Bronze Situla with Chain
Late Period, 664-332 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £624
With loops to the rim and short chains hanging from a hook finial; upper register with solar barque; the body with figure of priapic god Amun-Min and offerant before an offering table; lotus-flower motif to the base; mounted on a custom-made stand. 129 grams total, 24.5 cm high including stand
Ex S.M. collection, Israel. Ex Ancient Art, London N14, UK. Private collection of Mr T.H., Norfolk, UK. Accompanied by a previous dealer's certificate of authenticity. -
Egyptian Bronze Figure of Osiris Wearing Plumed Atef Crown
Late Period, 664-332 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,170
With frontal uraeus, holding the crook and flail in his hands; mounted on a custom-made stand. 70 grams total, 15.2 cm high including stand
Old Dutch collection, acquired prior to 1985. Ex Netherlands ancient art gallery. Ex Artemission, London SW5, UK. Private collection of Mr T.H., Norfolk, UK. Accompanied by a previous dealer's certificate of authenticity and invoice.
Osiris is a deity who represents both death and fertility and is commonly regarded as the quintessential god of rebirth. Though he was once a mortal ruler, as a deceased entity his domain was the Underworld. Abydos was the primary centre of Osiris’ cult, where a renowned yearly celebration of the god was held. Statues of Osiris were dedicated at temples throughout Egypt to ensure the god's protection and blessings. -
Egyptian Bronze Anubis Finial
Late Period-Ptolemaic Period, 664-30 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £572
Standing before an enigmatic balloon-like object on a rectangular base with two supports flanking a short shank; mounted on a custom-made stand. 377 grams total, 12.5 cm high including stand
Believed to have been collected (1899-1914) and in an early 20th century collection, with some references to Psamtik I, and a German funded expedition. Ex Ludwig Borchardt, Heliop. Private collection of Mr T.H., Norfolk, UK. Accompanied by a handwritten note from Ludwig Borchardt.
Wepwawet, the canine god, is strongly linked with Abydos and kingship. His name means 'Opener of the Ways' and may have had military connotations as someone who clears the path for his king. In funerary texts, Wepwawet guided the dead through the Underworld. The image of the god on a standard, as seen in this example, was carried in processions associated with Osiris and kingship. The balloon-like object, known as shed-shed, is mysterious but may have symbolised the royal placenta, which was considered the king's 'double'. -
Egyptian Wooden Face Mask
Late Period, 664-332 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £312
With painted detailing to the eyebrows, eyes and headband; flesh coloured pigment remaining on the nose and forehead; prominent nose and small mouth; pierced through the chin and forehead to accept attachment dowels. 223 grams, 18.5 cm high
Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector. London collection, 2016. -
Egyptian Wooden Face Mask
Late Period, 664-332 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £715
Carved in the half-round with elegant nose and prominent chin, full lips and rounded cheeks; a headband resting on the forehead; an attachment dowel on the chin and forehead. 475 grams, 23 cm high
Acquired 1970s-1996. Property of a North American collector. London collection, 2016.