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 Pale Blue Faience Shabti for Padiosiris
Late Period, 664-525 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,105
Finely modelled face with false beard and tripartite wig; hands holding the pick and the hoe; a seed bag over the left shoulder; plain back pillar; a T-shape arrangement of hieroglyphic text to the front: sḥḏ wsir sm n mnw pꜢ-di wsir(?) ms s(sic) r.t-ir.t-Ꜣst-n-wr.t mꜢʾ ḫrw ‘The illuminated, the Osiris, Sem-(priest ) of Min, God’s Servant, Pa-di-Osiris, born (to) Ret-iret-Isis-en-weret true of voice’; mounted on a custom-made stand. 98.6 grams, 14.5 cm including stand
French collection, 1990s. Acquired from St James's Ancient Art, London SW1, circa 2019. Private collection of Professor Kenneth Graham, London, UK. Accompanied by a St James's Ancient Art certificate of authenticity. -
Egyptian Green Faience Shabti with Hieroglyphic Inscription
Late Period, 664-332 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £650
Olive-green glazed composition with detailed facial features, hands, tools, seed bag, dorsal pillar; T-shaped hieroglyphic text: 'sḥḏ wsir nb pḥ.ty ..ns(?) mꜢʾ ḫrw ms n ipt-wrt(?)' ‘The illuminated, the Osiris, Lord of Strength ..ns(?), true of voice’ born to Ipet-weret(?)’; mounted on a custom-made stand. 169 grams total, 15 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. -
Large Egyptian Bronze Osiris with Silver-Inlaid Eyes
Late Period, 26th-30th Dynasty, 664-332 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £6,500
Modelled mummiform with arms crossed at the chest, holding crook and flail with highlighted features, wearing a plaited false beard and Atef crown mounted on two curved ram's horns, flanked by detailed ostrich feathers and frontal uraeus; natural facial detailing with silver inlaid eyes and large protruding ears; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. 1.15 kg total, 31 cm high including stand
Norman Blankman collection, New York, 1960s. P.G. collection, New York, USA. with Art for Eternity, New York. with Bonhams, London, 6 July 2023, lot 360. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11945-210564.
Osiris was the foremost of ancient Egyptian funerary deities and lord of the underworld. Many statuettes of the god were offered in temples dedicated in his name, and have also been discovered in other contexts including animal necropoleis and temples dedicated to other gods. -
Egyptian Limestone Bust of a Male Dignitary
New Kingdom, 13th-12th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,340
Carved male bust with a short-sleeved robe and tiered shebyu jewelled collar, striated wig; mounted on a custom-made plinth. 855 grams total, 21 cm high including stand
From an old UK collection. With Coincraft since the 1990s. Property of an Essex, UK, gentleman. Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Alberto Maria Pollastrini. Accompanied by a master copy of the Coincraft catalogue BCF 76, where this object is offered for £2,950.00. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.11946-209473. -
Egyptian Bone Cosmetic Spoon
Late New Kingdom, 1550-664 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,600
The naked female figure standing on a lotus column and holding an elongated shallow cosmetic spoon above her head. 32 grams, 19.5 cm
Acquired in Egypt in the early 20th century. Private collection of Mr T.H., Norfolk, UK. -
Egyptian Gold God Bastet Cat Amulet
Late New Kingdom, 1070-900 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £650
Modelled seated on a tongue-shaped base, with simple facial detailing and suspension loop to the back. 0.52 grams, 8 mm
From an early 20th century French collection.
The goddess Bastet was believed to be the daughter of the sun god and was shown with the features of a lion up until about 1000 B.C. when she was portrayed as a cat or human with a cat head. As the daughter of Ra she was associated with the rage inherent in the sun god's eye which was considered to be his instrument of vengeance. Her development into a cat goddess occurred during the New Kingdom but did not fully develop until the Late Period. She was still associated with the destructive power of the sun and was shown on the prow of the solar boat, decapitating the evil serpent Apophis in the Book of the Dead. The maternal, protective and hunting characteristics of the cat are obvious in Bastet and she was seen as a protector of pregnant women and young children. In the Pyramid Texts she is invoked by the deceased king to act as his protector and to help him reach the sky to join the sun god; the king proclaims that Bastet is his mother and nurse. Like her counterpart, Sekhmet, Bastet has an aggressive side and, in a text from Karnak, Amenhotep II described his enemies being slaughtered like the victims of Bastet. The goddess had a shrine at Karnak, where she is known as the 'Lady of Asheru' which aligns her closely with the goddess Mut, the consort of Amun-Ra. Her most famous shrine was in the north-east Delta region, at Bubastis, and was known as Per-Bastet or 'the House of Bastet.' Herodotus describes the festival of Bastet as one of the most elaborate in all of Egypt and identifies her with the Greek Artemis. Cemeteries of cats have been excavated at Bubastis and at Saqqara and Memphis. -
Egyptian Wooden Cosmetic Spoon
New Kingdom, 1550-1070 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £910
Carved in the round, the handle formed as the extended nude female body, the extended arms holding out a pear-shaped bowl; separate carved head with bobbed hair; offered with a flattish lid with attached goose's neck and partial head; female head possibly a later addition. 42 grams, 17.5 cm
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. -
Large Egyptian Wooden Shabti with Hieroglyphs
New Kingdom, circa 1300 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,170
Finely modelled with gesso surface and painted detailing; wearing lappet wig and broad collar, crossed hands holding agricultural implements; frontal column of hieroglyphic text dedicating the shabti to 'The illuminated, the Osiris, Renpt-nefer, true of voice'. 107 grams, 22 cm high
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 Carnelian Scarab
New Kingdom, 1550-1070 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £520
With incised carapace and leg detailing, hieroglyphs to the underside. 2.23 grams, 16 mm
Ex North London, UK, gentleman, 1990s. -
Egyptian Carnelian Scarab with Symbols Representing the Royal Title 'King of Upper and Lower Egypt'
New Kingdom, 1550-1070 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,560
With rounded profile and detailing, the underside inscribed with the sedge, bee and sun disk symbols. 3 grams, 16 mm
Ex North London, UK, gentleman, 1990s. -
Egyptian Blue Faience Shabti with Hieroglyphic Inscription
Late Period, 664-332 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £286
Pale blue glazed composition with T-shaped hieroglyphic inscription to the lower body incorporating mother's name. 23 grams, 81 mm
Acquired from a private UK collection in the late 1990s. Private collection of Mr T.H., Norfolk, UK. -
Egyptian Steatite and Other Scarab Collection
Late Period, 664-332 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £520
Mixed group of scarabs and scaraboids in steatite and glazed composition with hieroglyphs to the underside. 10.2 grams total, 10-17 mm
Ex North London, UK, gentleman, 1990s.