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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Large Stone Age 'Reygasse' Knapped Hand Axe
Lower Palaeolithic Period, circa 400,000-200,000 B.P.Sold for (Inc. bp): £130
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. -
Stone Age 'Reygasse' Knapped Hand Axe
Lower Palaeolithic Period, circa 400,000-200,000 B.P.Sold for (Inc. bp): £208
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. -
Stone Age Polished Goddess Idol
Neolithic Period, circa 6th-4th millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £6,240
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.
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. -
Stone Age Scandinavian Type Lozenge-Shaped Pierced Battle Axehead
Neolithic Period, 4th-3rd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £117
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. -
Large Stone Age Pierced Boat-Shaped Axehead
Neolithic Period, circa 4th-3rd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £98
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. -
Large Bronze Age Spectacle Brooch
8th-7th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £572
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. -
Massive Bronze Age Bracelet with Coiled Terminals
12th-8th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,235
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. -
Bronze Age Sheep Bead Necklace and Bracelet Group
12th-10th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £780
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. -
Large Late Bronze Age Neck Torc and Arm-Ring Set
10th-8th century B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £702
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. -
'The Badgers Hill' British Bronze Age Dagger
2nd millennium B.C.Sold for (Inc. bp): £910
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. -
Large Iron Age Celtic Enamelled Dragonesque Brooch
75-175 A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £312
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. -
Romano-Celtic Bronze 'Raskelf' Dragonesque Brooch
Circa 75-175 A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £416
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.