Ancient Art, Antiquities, Books, Natural History, Stamps & Coins

Including debitage and flakes, some with inked findspot e.g. 'Pit Dwelling Farnham', 'Blade Core, Moor Park'. 378 grams total, 32-89 mm



Found during the original official excavations in the Farnham area, Surrey, UK, which were conducted by Harold Faulker (1875-1963), and William Francis Rankine (c.1877-1962), who were instrumental with the excavation works and pit dwellings at sites including Six Bells, Frensham, Tilford, Thursley and Bagshot, and Waverley, amongst others at and near Farnham in the 1930s and 1940s. Much of the material is now in the prestigious Farnham museum. The present part of the collection having been gifted to their good friend and Haselmere Parish Priest, Charles Borelli (c.1914-2000) of Farnham; who was part of the Borelli family from Italy who emigrated from Lake Como in 1828 to set up the Borelli family watch and jewellery business; thence by family descent to his nephew.

Farnham district is one of the most interesting prehistoric regions in England, and has been visited by a succession of prehistoric peoples from Palaeolithic times onwards. Along the southern slope of the Farnham valley are three gravel terraces, which are famous prehistorically and have yielded large quantities of flint implements and bones of prehistoric animals, notably the mammoth. In prehistoric times, the chalk deposits played an important role in attracting settlers, as they contained rich layers of flint nodules used to make implements. The Farnham Gravels have been an abundant source of Palaeolithic finds, most prominent being hand axes. The axes differ in type, and each type is associated with a cultural phase of the Palaeolithic period. Types similar to these are found in similar deposits in the Somme valley and in many English valley gravels. Flint mining was also carried out by the Neolithic folk. Polished axes and leaf forms, arrowheads and knives, or possibly lance heads, are characteristic of the Neolithic flint work.

With a gently curving blade and square butt, old inked collector's note ' Lizard Walk, Wymondham, Norfolk' on one side. 78 grams, 11.4 cm



Found Lizard Walk, Wymondham, Norfolk, UK. From the collection of Martin Doyle, Leverstock, UK, 1980s-2000s.

Kidney-shaped in plan with cortex remaining on the broad butt, curved cutting edge; underside with inked legend 'Pécharmant sud Corbiac MB80 / 03/11-xx-216'. 204 grams, 11.9 cm



From France. Collection of Tony Berlant (b. 1941). Private collection, UK.

Piriform in plan, knapped in dark red quartzite with narrow point. 440 grams, 12.2 cm



From the Northern Sahara, North Africa. From a collection formed during the 1970s and 1980s, having been acquired on the British art market; thence by descent to the current owner in 1998.

Comprising mostly bifacial and unifacial lozenge-shaped and piriform flint and chert arrowheads; probably from the Sahara region of North Africa. 95 grams total, 19-46 mm



UK gallery, early 2000s.

Similar specimens of arrowheads have been found in the Eastern Sahara Region of Abu Tartur Plateau. Most of the arrowheads came from the El Jarar Neolithic, c. 7700-7300 B.P. (c.6500-6100 B.C.). Other parallels occur in the region of Kharga Oasis.

Comprising four tanged arrowheads in grey and brown stone. 27.2 grams total, 43-51 mm



From a previous old English collection. From the private collection of a West Midlands lady collector; acquired from a UK auction house.

Triangular in profile with a narrow butt and a wide blade; attributed to Homo neanderthalensis. 190 grams, 96 mm



From the collection of a West London, UK, gentleman. Acquired from the art market in the 2020s.

A knapped lozenge-shaped bifacial tool in light grey flint. 38 grams, 94 mm



Found Yonne, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Region, France. From a large French collection formed in the early 1900s. Acquired on the UK art market. From the private collection of an East Anglian, UK, specialist collector.

Lentoid in section with facetted butt, old inked legend 'Stoneyfield / May 1937'. 115 grams, 98 mm



Found during the original official excavations in the Farnham area, Surrey, UK, which were conducted by Harold Faulker (1875-1963), and William Francis Rankine (c.1877-1962), who were instrumental with the excavation works and pit dwellings at sites including Six Bells, Frensham, Tilford, Thursley and Bagshot, and Waverley, amongst others at and near Farnham in the 1930s and 1940s. Much of the material is now in the prestigious Farnham museum. The present part of the collection having been gifted to their good friend and Haselmere Parish Priest, Charles Borelli (c.1914-2000) of Farnham; who was part of the Borelli family from Italy who emigrated from Lake Como in 1828 to set up the Borelli family watch and jewellery business; thence by family descent to his nephew.

Farnham district is one of the most interesting prehistoric regions in England, and has been visited by a succession of prehistoric peoples from Palaeolithic times onwards. Along the southern slope of the Farnham valley are three gravel terraces, which are famous prehistorically and have yielded large quantities of flint implements and bones of prehistoric animals, notably the mammoth. In prehistoric times, the chalk deposits played an important role in attracting settlers, as they contained rich layers of flint nodules used to make implements. The Farnham Gravels have been an abundant source of Palaeolithic finds, most prominent being hand axes. The axes differ in type, and each type is associated with a cultural phase of the Palaeolithic period. Types similar to these are found in similar deposits in the Somme valley and in many English valley gravels. Flint mining was also carried out by the Neolithic folk. Polished axes and leaf forms, arrowheads and knives, or possibly lance heads, are characteristic of the Neolithic flint work.

Comprising mostly bifacial and uniface leaf-shaped and piriform flint and chert arrowheads; probably from the Sahara region of North Africa. 100 grams total, 20-49 mm



Ex UK gallery, early 2000s.

Triangular arrowhead with an inked Hugh Fawcett collection monogram and notes 'N.America 60-88'. 2.66 grams, 37 mm



Ex Dr Hugh Alderson Fawcett (1891-1982), a general practitioner and antiquarian who built up an important collection of ancient implements, weapons and ornaments. From the collection of a West Sussex collector. Acquired from the UK art market in the 2020s.

Dr Hugh Alderson Fawcett (1891-1982) was a general practitioner and antiquarian who built up an important collection of ancient implements, weapons and ornaments. The bulk of his collection is now in the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, but Fawcett previously sold or traded some examples. His distinctive monogram and careful recording of provenance make his pieces readily identifiable.

Lentoid in section with barbs to the rear. 0.75 grams, 19 mm



From Niger, West Africa. Acquired on the European art market. From a private S.W. London, UK, collection.