Ancient Art, Antiquities, Books, Natural History & Coins

Piriform body and funicular neck; accompanied by a custom-made display stand. 28.5 grams, 10.6 cm (91.1 grams total, 13.2 cm including stand)



From an important London, UK, collection 1980-2020.

These small flasks are typical in shape and dimensions, produced by the Egyptian or Syrian workshops of the Fatimid Empire. They were realised in ultramarine blue, slightly translucent glass, free-blown, and with a snapped-off base.

Ovoid in profile with a short neck and a flat rim, pierced at the bottom; minor dents to the surface. 485 grams, 17 cm



London, UK gallery, 1971-early 2000s. Private collection, London, UK. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13139-248448.

Comprising a D-section hoop expanding towards the shoulders, a raised oval bezel with a two-line cursive Kufic inscription. 8.28 grams, 22.88 mm overall, 17.46 mm internal diameter (approximate size British K 1/2, USA 5 1/2, Europe 10.58, Japan 10)



From the private collection of a European gentleman (1942-2024), formed since the 1970s.

Comprising a D-section hoop with expanding shoulders, a gilt shield with scrolls on each shoulder, and a low-relief cross expanding across the bezel with scrollwork background. 7.68 grams, 24.33 mm overall, 17.70 x 18.33 mm internal diameter (approximate size British O, USA 7, Europe 14.98, Japan 14)



Acquired on the European art market.

With thick looped body and striking face to the outer edge; handle formed in openwork with stylized serpent-head, open mouth with recurved teeth, trident tail with similar, pellet-clusters; engraved and drilled detailing. 297 grams, 11.5 cm



Acquired in Christie's, The Longridge Collection, London, UK, 2010 (£1,276.00). Personal collection of a Suffolk lady, UK.

Among the objects reflecting the continuation of traditional figural compositions in Indo-Iranian art, there are zoomorphic flint strikers, decorated with serpents, ducks or geese and hawks attacking birds, indicating the persistence of imperial and solar symbols.

Octagonal tabular bifacial panel with incised borders; dense nastaliq script to each face; with old collector's note with transliteration and translation 'Constant hearing with the blessing of the name Muhammed / Sakander Abbas'. 1.63 grams, 17 mm



From the private collection of a European gentleman (1942-2024), formed since the 1970s.

The Nastaʿlīq was one of the most important and widespread calligraphic styles used to write Persian. It was developed in Iran in the 8th and 9th centuries. It was also occasionally used to write the original Arabic language, known as taʿliq, for the titles and headings of books or printed publications, but its use was predominant in Persian, Ottoman Turkish, Urdu, and other languages ​​of Perso-Indian influence. Nastaʿlīq is still widespread in Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan for written poetry and as a form of artistic expression (arabesque).

Depicting two celestial musicians: one holding a stringed instrument, head turned to the right; the other playing a drum, head turned to the left; each positioned to create a sense of movement and carved with very fine details, including carefully manicured hair and facial hair, extensive jewellery and beautifully crisp eyelids; mounted on modern steel bases. 55.1 kg total, 53 cm high including stand each



Private collection, Rome, acquired in the 1980s. with Christie's, New York, Indian and Southeast Asian Art, 21 September 2007, no.70 [$60,000-$80,000]. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13376-259008.

Sculpture and music have played a prominent part in the cultural development of Indian civilisation. From the representation of the dynamic art of music and dancing on sculpture, we can acquire knowledge of the type of music and dance practised at different periods, and in the study of the history and evolution of music in general and musical instruments in particular.

Double-edged blade with a triangular point and squared shoulders, vertical ornamental lines on both sides of the blade, strong hilt with an engraved wave-like decoration on one side. 603 grams, 68 cm



From the private collection of a London gentleman, from his grandfather's collection formed before the early 1970s. 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 search certificate number no.13300-257655.

From the 7th century B.C., the Scythian sword appears to be a two-edged, almost parallel-sided blade tapering towards the point, about 50-60 cm long, rarely reaching 70 cm in length. The present sword can be considered to be a particular type of Scythian akinakes, with strong influences from the Urartian Caucasian culture. The sword is very similar to an example from the Haimanova Mohyla barrow, and the hilt is similar to an example visible on the relief from the Yubilejnoe settlement (Lifanti-Shelekhan, 2022 figs.8,11), where swords of the Sindo-Maeotian type are depicted.

With a lentoid-section blade, tongue-shaped in plan, with an integral tapering hilt with flared finial, lateral flanges to accept the remains of a panel of cream-coloured stone to each face which would have formed the grip. 255 grams, 32.7 cm



Acquired on the UK art market, 1990s. Private collection, New York, USA.

The art of Luristan can be described as the art of nomadic herdsmen and horsemen with an emphasis on the crafting of small, easily portable objects, among these a great number of bronze weapons. The rich and noble aristocrats of Luristan, Elamites, Hurrians, Lullubians, Kutians, and Kassites went to battle splendidly equipped and wore magnificent bronze armour, using maces, spears and daggers as offensive weapons, alongside spears, bows and arrows.

Leaf-shaped blade with a separately cast hilt; blade tapering to a point, incised with three lines of incised linear decoration; hilt with flared guard, pierced with a pin and raised geometric pattern. 165 grams, 24.5 cm



Acquired on the UK art market, 1990s. Private collection, New York, USA.

With a lentoid-section blade, tongue-shaped in plan; integral tapering hilt with flared lobes to the finial, lateral spurs to the grip with incised detailing; baluster formed as a pair of addorsed horse-heads forming a stylised grotesque mask; mounted on a custom-made stand. 540 grams total, 36 cm including stand



with Art Ancient, London, UK. Private collection, London, UK.

Pre-Mongol remains in Kazakhstan, and the Russian-Ukrainian steppes can be attributed to the Cumans, also called Kiptchaks. In the latter region, the Cuman presence is particularly associated with 12th- to 13th-century kurgan groups. Certain elements of the grave goods are highly characteristic of the Cumans, such as gold sceptres made from a coiled metal rod, which sometimes resemble a straightened torque.

Comprising a slender tapering body in graduated gilded sheet-silver sleeves with rolled rims; at base, a bronze ferrule with a squared finial; at top, a mushroom-shaped boss with lateral attachment rivet; restored. 353 grms, 56 cm



Private collection, UK. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by search certificate number no.13377-259199.