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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Migration Period Gold Ring with Inscribed Silver Inlay
Italy, 5th-7th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £2,080
Round-section hoop with applied granule trefoil to each shoulder, ellipsoid bezel with beaded wire collar, stepped cell, inset silver plaque with niello-filled design of a stylised portrait bust with legend above '+MISI[T]'; inked legend to reverse 'f20' and old Christie's tag. 8.50 grams, 23.40 mm overall, 19.15 mm internal diameter (approximate size British Q, USA 8, Europe 17.49, Japan 16)
with Christies, sale 3498, 11 December 2014, lot 291. Accompanied by an original Christie's lot tag. -
Saxon Gold Pendant with Cabochon Garnet
Circa 6th-7th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,560
Tongue-shaped gold cell with applied bands of braided filigree, inset cabochon garnet; integral loop. 5.38 grams, 24 mm
From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s. -
Anglo-Saxon Gilt Bronze Horse Harness Pelta Mount
6th-7th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £975
Comprising a pelta-shaped panel pierced in three places to accept a rivet (one absent); obverse with low-relief Style II knotwork. 18.2 grams, 56 mm
Found Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, UK. From an East Anglian private collection. -
Viking Age Scandinavian Silver Filigree Pendant
Circa 9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,690
Discoid plate with integral suspension loop secured at the reverse, symmetrical cruciform design of applied silver filigree coils and granule ornament. 5.68 grams, 44 mm
Private collection formed in Europe in the 1980s. Westminster collection, central London, UK. -
Viking Age Scandinavian Silver Odin Pendant with Ravens
Circa 9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £520
A discoid silver pendant with integral loop, beaded border enclosing a low-relief niello image of a male facing mask between two birds embraced at the necks. 1.76 grams, 21 mm
Private collection formed in Europe in the 1980s. Westminster collection, central London, UK. -
Viking Age Scandinavian Silver Filigree Pendant
Circa 9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £312
Discoid plate with integral suspension loop secured at the reverse, symmetrical design of applied silver filigree and clusters of granules. 3.12 grams, 30 mm
Private collection formed in Europe in the 1980s. Westminster collection, central London, UK. -
Viking Age Scandinavian Silver Pendant with Mask
Circa 9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £390
With integral loop, border enclosing a low-relief image of a male facing mask between two birds embraced at the necks; Kipplingeberg type. 3.38 grams, 21 mm
Private collection formed in Europe in the 1980s. Westminster collection, central London, UK. -
Large Saxon Period Silver Pendant with Rock Crystal Orb
6th-7th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £4,420
With discoid base and four straps containing the sphere, attached to a narrow collar at the top with a suspension ring; punched decoration to the straps. 96.4 grams, 88 mm
From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s. -
Late Anglo-Saxon Bronze Ring with Four Ovate Bezels
Circa 1100-1400 A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £416
Comprising a large sub-circular hoop with four evenly spaced ovate bezels giving an octagonal appearance to the hoop; the bezels with a moulded collar to each side and with a deeply incised symbol: one with a Trewhiddle style beast(?); the second with a symbol resembling lower case Omega sign; the third and fourth bezel with two upper case Omega symbols oriented horizontally with the bases at the centre of the bezel. 4.55 grams, 26.17 mm overall, 20.09 mm internal diameter (approximate size British U 1/2, USA 10 1/4, Europe 23.15, Japan 22)
Found whilst searching with a metal detector near North Yorkshire, UK, in 2020, by Mark Didlick. Accompanied by a copy of the British Museum's Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) report no.YORYM-110C9F. -
Viking Age Silver Bracelet with Pendants
Circa 10th-12th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £338
With graduated silver wire coils to the shank, collection of free-running cosmetic grooming pendants comprising: pelta-shaped plaque, quadrant-shaped plaque, ear scoop, miniature hammer, tweezers. 28.75 grams total, bracelet 88.90 mm wide
Formerly acquired in the late 1950s. From the family collection of a South East London collector.
Miniature hammers occur in pre-Viking times both in Scandinavia and in England, but their number increased markedly in Viking Scandinavia. They are known in iron, bronze, occasionally amber, and, from the 10th century onward, silver. They are predominantly found in women's graves, while most of the silver examples come from hoards of the late 10th and 11th centuries. -
Viking Age Silver 'Hoard' Group
Circa 9th-11th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £520
Comprising: a flat-section bracelet with raised ribs; two bracelets each of twisted silver wire; group of five silver Dirhem coins, each mounted for use as a pendant. 71 grams total, 18-55 mm
From a South German collection. Previously with Gorny & Mosch, Munich, Germany. Ex New York Gallery, USA, November 2009. Property of an important West London collector, inventory no.1122. -
Merovingian Bronze Belt Buckle with Gold and Garnet Inlays
5th-6th century A.D.Sold for (Inc. bp): £7,800
Comprising: ellipsoid loop with hollowed underside; tongue with D-shaped shield bearing stylised facing mask among pellets, waisted and curved over the forward edge of the loop; rectangular plate with applied sheet-gold triangular panels bearing repoussé rings, waves, points and other motifs, gold cellwork and segmented frame with garnet cloisons, a central garnet cabochon, segmented rim; four pierced attachment lugs to the reverse. 147 grams, 98 mm
From the collection of Adolphe Stoclet, 1871-1949. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12137-217046.
The buckle plate is large and impressive, while the loop is somewhat narrower and may have been replaced. The central cabochon is a feature of buckle plates from this period (e.g. Menghin, IX.3.1, IX.5.1). The tongue-shield is of an unusual type more often found in Frankish contexts (e.g. Menghin, VII.40.18, MacGregor 77.24, 77.25, 77.26) of the same period.