Home > Auctions > 26 November - 1 December 2024
Ancient Art, Antiquities, Natural History & Coins
Drum-shaped in profile with long volute nozzle, concentric rings to the discus; fitting for a hinged reflector to the rear; rare. 86 grams, 13 cm
From a private German collection.
From a private German collection.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £156
Modelled in the round with three heads facing in different directions, and with a pair of snakes wound round the body as a harness; mounted on a custom-made stand. 77 grams total, 63 mm 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.
Cf. similar item in the British Museum under accession no.1919,0620.8.
In Greek mythology, Cerberus, often referred to as the hound of Hades, was a multi-headed dog that guarded the gates of the Underworld to prevent the dead from leaving. His figure is linked to the myth of Orpheus, the only one who managed to tame him with his songs, and to the myth of Hercules, the only one who managed to capture him.
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. similar item in the British Museum under accession no.1919,0620.8.
In Greek mythology, Cerberus, often referred to as the hound of Hades, was a multi-headed dog that guarded the gates of the Underworld to prevent the dead from leaving. His figure is linked to the myth of Orpheus, the only one who managed to tame him with his songs, and to the myth of Hercules, the only one who managed to capture him.
With rounded body and small lateral wings, broad fanned tail with radiating lines and ring-and-dt motifs; mounted on a custom-made stand. 60.7 grams total, 75 mm 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.
Cf. Tilley E., Old collections, New questions: researching the Roman Collections of the Yorkshire Museum, York, 2018, for two peacock figurines (H2427; 2015.572) from York, one from the Railway Station cemetery. Another peacock from York (H2428) is thought to be a sceptre head.
The peacock had a dual symbolism in the Graeco-Roman world. In the pagan world it was the symbol of the goddess Hera (Roman Juno) and represented her beauty and immortality. In the Roman-Christian world it became a symbol of the resurrection of Christ, owing to its yearly moult and regrowth of its spectacular feathers.
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. Tilley E., Old collections, New questions: researching the Roman Collections of the Yorkshire Museum, York, 2018, for two peacock figurines (H2427; 2015.572) from York, one from the Railway Station cemetery. Another peacock from York (H2428) is thought to be a sceptre head.
The peacock had a dual symbolism in the Graeco-Roman world. In the pagan world it was the symbol of the goddess Hera (Roman Juno) and represented her beauty and immortality. In the Roman-Christian world it became a symbol of the resurrection of Christ, owing to its yearly moult and regrowth of its spectacular feathers.
Modelled in the round seated and with the head turned slightly upwards, left hand modelled open to grip a separate object; mounted on a custom-made stand. 55.5 grams total, 57 mm 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.
Cf. Rolland, H., Bronzes Antiques de Haute Provence, Paris, 1965, item 215, for type.
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. Rolland, H., Bronzes Antiques de Haute Provence, Paris, 1965, item 215, for type.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £1,040
Flügelfibeln type bow-brooch with spring and pin, trumpet-shaped finial with opposed knops on the curved horns, pointilé detailing to the spine. long catchplate with pierced tracery; reinforcing strip applied in antiquity. 73 grams, 19 cm
Acquired on the UK art market before 2000.
Property of an Essex, UK, gentleman.
Cf. Hattatt, R., Brooches of Antiquity, Oxbow, 1987, fig.14f and no.765, for similar types.
Acquired on the UK art market before 2000.
Property of an Essex, UK, gentleman.
Cf. Hattatt, R., Brooches of Antiquity, Oxbow, 1987, fig.14f and no.765, for similar types.
An amuletic pendant with rectangular plaque and flat-section suspension coil; pointillé detailing to the surface, two reserved facing figures in ankle-length robes, parcel-gilt. 2.04 grams, 36 mm
From the collection of a London antiquarian, formed since the 1980s.
From the collection of a London antiquarian, formed since the 1980s.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £650
Carnelian cloison with intaglio figure with helmet and shield; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 3.35 grams, 21.83 mm overall, 18.44 mm internal diameter (approximate size British N, USA 6 1/2, Europe 13.72, Japan 13)
Ex German art market, 2000s.
Acquired from an EU collector living in London.
From the collection of Surrey, UK, gentleman.
Ex German art market, 2000s.
Acquired from an EU collector living in London.
From the collection of Surrey, UK, gentleman.
Formed as youthful head with curly hair framing the face, loop to the top with ferrous remains. 55.1 grams, 50 mm
Acquired in the mid 1980s-1990s.
Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent.
Private collection, since the late 1990s.
Acquired in the mid 1980s-1990s.
Private collection, Switzerland, thence by descent.
Private collection, since the late 1990s.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £546
Discoid in plan, both sides with a radiate profile bust of an emperor, legend surrounding. 4.88 grams, 26 mm
From the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s.
From the collection of a gentleman, acquired on the London art market in the 1990s.
Round-section penannular bracelet pair each with snake-head finials, hatching and other ornament. 16.5 grams total, 55-56 mm
Private collection, Arundel, West Sussex, UK, 1980s.
Private collection, Arundel, West Sussex, UK, 1980s.
Sold for (Inc. bp): £130
With narrow round-section shank, flattened leaf-shaped finials with transverse ribbing and punched serpent-head detailing. 6.57 grams, 49 mm
Private collection, Arundel, West Sussex, UK, 1980s-1990s.
The armilla was a Roman military decoration in the form of an arm-ring or bracelet, often with snake-head terminals. They were made in gold, silver or bronze, the latter normally awarded to the lower ranks as a visible mark of distinguished service.
Private collection, Arundel, West Sussex, UK, 1980s-1990s.
The armilla was a Roman military decoration in the form of an arm-ring or bracelet, often with snake-head terminals. They were made in gold, silver or bronze, the latter normally awarded to the lower ranks as a visible mark of distinguished service.
Dark amber-glass unguentarium with rolled rim, squat blue glass jar with trumpet-shaped mouth. 120 grams total, 6.5-12.7 cm
From a family collection mostly formed in the 1940s-1950s, thence by descent.
From a family collection mostly formed in the 1940s-1950s, thence by descent.
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625 - 636 of 3419 LOTS
625 - 636 of 3419 LOTS
