In light-pink stone with wide butt; inked collection inscriptions to one side 'S'Laikia', 'Reygasse' and 'Coll- Mortillet 2152'. 697 grams, 15.1 cm

Believed to have been found in Reygasse, France.
Ex Collection Martillet, no.2152.
Collection of Mr François Bigot (1950-2009).

Accompanied by a copy of a French cultural export permit, no.231578.

In light brown stone, of rounded profile with thickened butt; inked collection inscription to one side ' Smaïz', 'Reygasse' and 'Coll Mortillet 2154'. 575 grams, 15 cm

Believed to have been found in Reygasse, France.
Ex Collection Martillet, no.2154.
Collection of Mr François Bigot (1950-2009).

Accompanied by a copy of a French cultural export permit, no.231578.

With rounded profile, stub arms and head without facial detailing, vestigial legs; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. 635 grams, 15 cm (686 grams total, 16.5 cm including stand)

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.

Accompanied by an academic report by Dr Raffaele D'Amato.
This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12087-217184.

Cf. Morris, D., The Art of Ancient Cyprus, Oxford, 1985, figs.114-115, pp.120-121; for similar idols; also see the view of Caldwell, Duncan, The Use of Animals in Birth Protection Rituals and Possible Uses of Stone Figurines from the Central Sahel, 2015 winter issue, vol.48, no.4, Nov., pp.14-25.

Most scholars consider these as symbols of the cult of fertility and evidence of the existence of a matriarchal society as a form of organisation of the earliest human society. The people of the Stone Age may have considered figures such as this to represent women and mothers with their life-giving powers, or as depictions of the ancestors.

With slightly convex cutting edge, second edge to butt. 1.01 kg, 22 cm

From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s.

Cf. Evans, Sir J., Ancient Stone Implements of Great Britain, 2nd edition, 1897, items 55, 56, 66.

With partly rounded butt and convex convergent sides, straight vertical cutting edge and central mounting socket. 1.8 kg, 23 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.

Cf. MacGregor, A. (ed.), Antiquities from Europe and the Near East in the Collection of Lord MacAlpine of West Green, Oxford, 1987, item 6.19.

Formed as two large tightly-wound coils with figure-of-eight-shaped intermediate coils, similar verso with pin absent. 207 grams, 15.3 cm

Ex London, UK, collection, 1990s.

Cf. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 37.11.18, for a very similar item.

Formed as a thick (10mm) rod with one smaller (38mm) and one larger (64mm) spiral coil. 441 grams, 11.6 cm wide

Acquired from Munich and London, 1990s.
From the collection of a London, UK, gentleman.

Restrung using annular and other beads, interspersed with Argali mountain sheep head beads; Korban culture. 124 grams total, 20-35.5 cm

From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s.

Comprising a substantial neck-ring with everted scrolled finials, and a coiled rod spiral. 850 grams total, 11.2-13.4 cm

From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s.

Long leaf-shaped blade, lentoid in section with two cutting edges and shallow tip; flared shoulders with recesses to accept mounting rivets. 100 grams, 15.4 cm

Found Badgers Hill, Luton, Bedfordshire, UK, in 1987.
Ex M. Hamblin collection, UK.
Recorded with Wardown Museum, Luton, UK.

S-shaped dragonesque brooch with comma-shaped finials, each with a raised ring-and-dot 'eye', curved neck, body with high-relief cells to accept enamel fill; free-running pin coiled about the 'neck'. 15.7 grams, 54 mm

Found whilst searching with a metal detector in South Stainley with Cayton, near Harrogate, North Yorkshire, UK, in May 2014.

Accompanied by a copy of a British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.SWYOR-279501.
Accompanied by an original British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) receipt copy no.002210 dated 14 July 2014.

Cf. Bayley, J. & Butcher, S., Roman Brooches in Britain: A Technological and Typological Study based on the Richborough Collection, London, 2004, item 350, for type.

Comprising the majority of the S-shaped brooch with a transverse band across the centre filled with triangular and lozenge cells with enamel; the head with a large eye with light blue enamel, ridged and curving ear-terminal above; pin coiled around the neck of the beast. 7.4 grams, 50 mm

Found whilst searching with a metal detector near North Yorkshire, UK, in 10 May 2023, by Mark Didlick.

Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.YORYM-1AFB8C.

Cf. Portable Antiquities Scheme reference nos.WAW-3F7030, NLM-5D7561, and LVPL-898482, for similar; cf. also Hattatt, R., A Visual Catalogue of Richard Hattatt's Ancient Brooches, Oxford, 2000, p.351, fig.210.