Auction Highlights
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Greek Marble Head of Dionysus
Sold for (Inc. bp): £23,400
Carved in the half-round in three-quarter view, youthful male head with stern features, hair gathered in a browband, horns to the brow; from a frieze or relief; mounted on a custom-made stand. -
Greek Marble Head of a Ruler
Sold for (Inc. bp): £31,200
Carved in the round with thick wreath of laurel leaves to the brow, short tousled hair, stern face with thick jaw; mounted on a custom-made stand. -
Roman Veined Marble Torso of an Athlete
Sold for (Inc. bp): £48,100
Standing contrapposto with his weight on his right leg and the left leg brought slightly forward; the musculature of the torso displaying well-defined pectoral muscles, prominent abdominal muscles and wide shoulders, the back with equally toned musculature and well-formed rounded buttocks; the veining of the marble accentuating the idealised anatomy; the now-absent head was most probably turned towards the supporting leg and the left arm would have been raised; mounted on a custom-made display stand. -
Large Middle Elamite Cylinder Seal of Kidnu, Chief Overseer of King Tan-Ruhurater II
Sold for (Inc. bp): £15,600
A high-status green chalcedony seal with frieze depicting a seated figure in horned headdress facing a standing figure with arms outstretched, small monkey to the legs; six columns of Akkadian cuneiform text transliterated as: 1. ki-di-nu UGULA KUŠ-MEŠ 2. GAL šà tan-dru-hu- 3. ra-te-er EŠŠANA šu-ši 4. u an-za-an ARAD 5. šà dha-te-ri-iš 6. šak(?) ì-lí-šu 'Kidinu, chief overseer of the equerries(?) of Tan-Ruhurater, King of Susa and Anzan, servant of Haterishshak, his god'. The seal's owner was an official of King Tan-Ruhurater II (circa 1450 B.C.), king of Susa and Anzan. The title used to describe Kidinu is sometimes translated 'high official', elsewhere 'horse groom' or 'animal trainer'; the Elamite deity Haterish is otherwise unknown. -
Mesopotamian Torch Bearer Stand with Lion Tamer
Sold for (Inc. bp): £46,800
A substantial torch bearer depicting a male lion or panther standing with legs firmly planted on a rectangular base, tail extending to the ground, with a massive circular shaped armature or candelabra issuing from its back and wearing an elaborate muzzle, the eyes retaining shell inlay with a circular hollow for the pupils; to the right of the beast a kneeling nude male wearing a large belt-armour and a diadem, eyes inlaid, left hand extended to the side and holding the lion's leash.
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Prehispanic Teotihuacan Terracotta Head Collection
2nd-7th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £416
Mixed group, mostly D-shaped in section with detailed hair; each mounted on a custom-made display stand. 190 grams total, 59-83 mm including stand
From the private collection of Zelia Nuttall (1857-1933), American archaeologist and anthropologist; thence by descent to her granddaughter, Christine Mary Frederica Bulmer nee Laughton (1912-2000), via Zelia's daughter Nadine Nuttall Laughton (1882-1967). From the collection of Christine's niece the late Gillian Bulmer (1935-20-21), Herefordshire, UK. Property of a Gloucestershire, UK, gentleman collector. Accompanied by a copy of a detailed signed statement of provenance. -
Prehispanic Teotihuacan Terracotta Animal Vessel
2nd-7th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £91
Of squat profile with modelled head, forelegs, hindlegs and tail; socket to the centre with lateral holes; mounted on a custom-made stand. 82 grams total, 63 mm wide including stand
From the private collection of Zelia Nuttall (1857-1933), American archaeologist and anthropologist; thence by descent to her granddaughter, Christine Mary Frederica Bulmer nee Laughton (1912-2000), via Zelia's daughter Nadine Nuttall Laughton (1882-1967). From the collection of Christine's niece the late Gillian Bulmer (1935-20-21), Herefordshire, UK. Property of a Gloucestershire, UK, gentleman collector. Accompanied by a copy of a detailed signed statement of provenance. -
Pre-Columbian Chipiquaro Terracotta Figure
Pre-Classic Period, circa 1200-500 B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £130
Crouching figure with exaggerated facial features, pierced for suspension; mounted on a square stand with label 'Mexico. Tatilco/Chipiquaro Culture Pre-Classic 1200-500 BC. Ex Mr J. Hillenius Amsterdam Artist'. 55.5 grams total including stand, 33 mm
From the private collection of Mr J Hilenius, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent. -
Pre-Columbian Jalisco Terracotta Pregnant Figure
Circa 100 B.C.-300 A.D. or laterSold for (Inc. bp): £494
Figure of a pregnant woman standing, adorned with a headdress, ear ornaments, a necklace and disc ornaments to the shoulders, and with armbands on the short arms; with red pigment and traces of black pigment to the breasts and the back. 1.28 kg, 33.5 cm
Collected from the 1980s onwards, from the Romy Rey (1938–2020) collection, London, UK. Property of a Bristol, UK, gentleman. -
Pre-Columbian Colima Double-Headed Effigy Incense Burner
Circa 300 B.C.-300 A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,340
Terracotta bifacial burner, the bowl formed as a human mask to each broad face with applied grotesque detailing and notched rim; central column below, voided and developing to a pair of straddling legs with male genitals; arched horse-shoe handle above with applied pellets to the outer edge. 2.37 kg, 39.5 cm
Acquired Bonhams, Knightsbridge, London, UK. Ex London, UK, gallery. Accompanied by a thermoluminescence analysis report no.C124d53 from Oxford Authentication. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12158-217338.
These janiform sculptures form an unusual subset of the Colima corpus and are believed to represent the rain god Tlaloc with the handle represented as snakes. This present example is notable for its size with some remaining original pigment remaining. These sculptures are thought to represent rain, earth and fertility. -
Prehispanic Teotihuacan Terracotta Head Collection
2nd-7th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £169
Including grotesque masks and figural panels; each mounted on a custom-made display stand. 360 grams total, 72-92 mm
From the private collection of Zelia Nuttall (1857-1933), American archaeologist and anthropologist; thence by descent to her granddaughter, Christine Mary Frederica Bulmer nee Laughton (1912-2000), via Zelia's daughter Nadine Nuttall Laughton (1882-1967). From the collection of Christine's niece, the late Gillian Bulmer (1935-20-21), Herefordshire, UK. Property of a Gloucestershire, UK, gentleman collector. Accompanied by a copy of a detailed signed statement of provenance. -
Pre-Columbian Terracotta Seated Female Figure
Circa 100 B.C. or laterSold for (Inc. bp): £156
Modelled in the round seated with legs thrust forward, arms spread, incised detailing to the face and head. 469 grams, 13 cm
From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent. -
North American Knapped Arrowhead
1st millennium A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £33
Knapped flint triangular type with broad mounting panel to the rear; old collector' label '9766'; mounted on a custom-made stand. 62 grams total, 75 mm (13 cm including stand)
Alton Edward Mills (1882-1970), Switzerland, thence by descent. -
North American Inuit Bone Harpoon Point
Nakleet, Punuk Period, 600-1200 A.D. or laterSold for (Inc. bp): £72
Carved with lentoid-section shank and triangular barbs to one edge. 6.8 grams, 11.5 cm
From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s. -
Native American Smoothing Stone Group
Late Woodland Period, 1st millennium A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £7
Including a flat biconvex type with broken edge and old collector's label 'R464', cobble type with scooped depression, D-shaped type with two flat faces marked '185' and other types. 2.47 kg total, 7.4-13.4 cm
From a collection acquired on the UK art market from various auction houses and collections mostly before 2000. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent. -
Native American Obsidian Knapped Knife
Pre 16th century A.D. or laterSold for (Inc. bp): £546
Lentoid in section, leaf-shaped with slightly polished rippled surface. 115 grams, 21.7 cm
Ex Nye and Company, New Jersey, USA, 4th-18th December 2012, lot 2799270. From an important Cambridgeshire estate; thence by descent. -
North American 'Mount Vernono' Arrowhead and Knife Group
1st millennium A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
Group of three knapped tools. 100 grams total, 5.8-11.5 cm
Private collection, UK.