Made from black volcanic rock with pitted surfaces, comprising a round-section lentoid pestle and a lunate mortar mounted on a custom-made stand. 16.4 kg total including stand, stone: 50 cm wide



From Central Sahara, Africa. Ex southern German private collection of U.H., since before 1999. Gorny & Mosch, Munich, Germany, auction 279, no.332. Accompanied by a copy of the Gorny & Mosch invoice and illustrated catalogue listing. Accompanied by a copy of the German cultural export licence. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate no.12487-229952. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

Worked and unpolished on all surfaces and edges, trapezoidal in plan with rectangular cross-section and slightly convex broad sides, straight narrow sides; butt rounded and with reduced thickness; rounded cutting edge; grey to beige 'marbled' flint with inclusions. 2.1 kg, 32 cm



Danish private collection, T.H. Denmark. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12472-228694. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

The unpolished so-called “flat” or “rectangular axe” was in widespread use in the 4th millennium B.C. in Southern Scandinavia and North Germany.

Symmetrically knapped with traces of retouching on both surfaces; piriform in plan with trimmed point, broad rounded butt; thick lentoid cross-section; roughly prepared working edges; yellowish-beige stone, superficial patina remaining. 587 grams, 15.4 cm



Ex Hervé Bouraly, Saint Ouen, France, between 1965-1990. Inscription on object: '1953. Champley (Yonne)'. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

Finely polished in dark grey stone with expanded convex cutting edge tapering to a 'hammer' butt, socket with reserved mouth to receive handle. 676 grams, 19.5 cm



From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.12509-231211. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

Plano-convex in section and ovate in profile with much cortex to the butt; inked findspot data 'Hachereau / 17 - Saintes / Métairie de Madame' and paper labels '32', 'N 13334'. 322 grams, 12.4 cm ( 519 grams total, 15.6 cm including stand)



Ex Hervé Bouraly, Saint Ouen, France, between 1965-1990. Inscription on object: 'Hachereau / 17 - Saintes / Métairie de Madame'. Europe, France, Saintes, lieu-dit Métairie de Madame. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

Rectangular in section with a narrow rounded butt and asymmetrical curved edge; pitted surface; old collector's labels 'France (Bourgogne)', 'Saulieu, Côte d'Or', 'N15621'. 489 grams, 13 cm



Ex Hervé Bouraly, Saint Ouen, France, between 1965-1990. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

Core tool, roughly hewn on all sides with cortex remains on the narrow end; relatively symmetrical, elongated oval in shape with irregular to lanceolate, thick cross-section; one broad side more convex than the other, straight in longitudinal profile; round, unworked neck with cortex remains, rounded cutting edge, smooth transition from cutting edge to longitudinal edges; beige-grey marbled stone (silex); mounted on a custom-made display stand. 850 grams total, 21.2 cm including stand



Ex Hervé Bouraly, Paris, between 1965-1974. Inscription on object: 'Ecox.1., .17.Ecoyeux.I' and 'Ecx 1'. Accompanied by a copy of an Art Loss Register certificate no.S00134582. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

Broad leaf-shaped blade with a gusseted midrib, lateral holes for attachment. 130 grams, 16.7 cm



Ex German collection, 1990s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

Waisted leaf-shaped blade with rounded tip, stepped edges, flared shoulders with holes to accept fixing rivets, flat tang with rivet hole and part of another at the broken end; blade restored; inked legend 'IRELAND / Monaghan'. 335 grams, 37.8 cm



Believed found Monaghan, Ireland. with Christie’s New York, 13 December 1980, no.22 Subsequently Olympia Auctions, 26 June 2024, no.120. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

Penannular in form and round in section with twist-pattern detailing. 5.52 grams, 22.84 mm overall, 17.75 internal diameter (approximate size British M 1/2, USA 6 1/4, Europe 13.09, Japan 12)



Previously acquired on the German art market in the 1980s. Acquired on the UK art market. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

With carinated profile, and flared rim, ancient rivetted repair to central base; strap handle to rear over ancient crack, with evidence of previous repairs. 182 grams, 15.2 cm wide



Acquired in Austria in 2000. Acquired by the present owner from the above. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.

Comprising: round-section penannular torc with scrolled finials; two hollow-formed bracelets. 732 grams total, 9.5-13.8 cm



From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s. This lot is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D’Amato.