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

Miniature skyphos with loop handles to the rim, painted horizontal bands to sidewall and vertical slashes; supplied with old collector's record card. 4.46 grams, 40 mm



From the collection of the late Bernard C. Pickard, Hampshire, UK, the owner of Bernard C. Pickard Antiquities, which closed in 1987, he had been collecting since the mid 1950s.

Bernard Pickard was a close friend of Richard Hattatt, the renowned author of several books on ancient brooches. Hattatt acknowledges in his first book, Ancient & Romano-British Brooches, published in 1982, that Mr Pickard first aroused his interest in brooches and inspired him in writing his books during his retirement. Mr Pickard also wrote the foreword to the section on Roman animal brooches, op. cit. p.158-160.

Formed as a single rod in two large tightly-wound coils with integral pin and catch to reverse. 48.3 grams, 10.8 cm



From a UK collection formed in the 1980s. Property of an Essex, UK, gentleman.

Comprising two bow brooches, one with recurved finials, both lacking a pin. 12.64 grams total, 40-43 mm



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.

Composed of a domed body with an inverted rim and a knop handle; the body decorated with two heads of ladies of fashion, palmettes between, waveband around the rim; repaired. 729 grams, 22 cm wide



From a UK collection formed in the 1980s. Property of an Essex, UK, gentleman.

Formed as a single rod in two large tightly-wound domed coils with integral catch to reverse of each dome. 121 grams, 12 cm



From a UK collection formed in the 1980s. Property of an Essex, UK, gentleman.

With broad bowl and rounded rim, flared foot; old collector's label to the underside 'Z17.91'. 147 grams, 10.4 cm wide



From the collection of the late Bernard C. Pickard, Hampshire, UK, the owner of Bernard C. Pickard Antiquities, which closed in 1987, he had been collecting since the mid 1950s.

Bernard Pickard was a close friend of Richard Hattatt, the renowned author of several books on ancient brooches. Hattatt acknowledges in his first book, Ancient & Romano-British Brooches, published in 1982, that Mr Pickard first aroused his interest in brooches and inspired him in writing his books during his retirement. Mr Pickard also wrote the foreword to the section on Roman animal brooches, op. cit. p.158-160.

Broad and squat with thick rim and carinated foot. 17.4 grams, 44 mm



From the collection of David Donlan (1947-2025), a dedicated and lifelong collector with a passion for the ancient world and the natural sciences, forming his collection from 1960s onwards, using many reputable dealers across the United Kingdom, including the well-regarded Coincraft and The Parthenon Gallery.

Lentoid-section hoop with integral disc bezel, incuse profile bust of a bearded, balding male. 5.38 grams, 24.33 mm overall, 19.56 mm internal diameter (approximate size British S, USA 9, Europe 20, Japan 19)



Ex German art market, 2000s. Acquired from an EU collector living in London. From the collection of a Surrey, UK, gentleman.

Modelled as a stylised quadruped with its legs folded beneath the body, long curving horns and circular cells on the body and eye, two lugs on the reverse. 24.3 grams, 51 mm



Ex Abelita collection, 1990s.

Scaraboid type with incuse design to the underside of a lioness crouching in profile with star and crescent moon above; supplied with a museum-quality impression. 1.94 grams, 15 mm



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

Lozengiform in section and fusiform in plan with the Greek letters 'TO' in low relief. 31.12 grams, 34 mm



Property of a European gentleman, acquired from the estate of a London collector (formed before 2000).

With a bulbous body, flared foot, lateral loop handles to the shoulder and a strap handle to the rear. 23.5 grams, 37 mm



Acquired by a Swiss family in the mid-1980s to late 1990s, thence by descent. Private collection, Switzerland, since the late 1990s.

The earliest Archaic Greek bronze hydriai enter the archaeological record in the last quarter of the seventh century. Although the appearance of bronze marks the first significant period of production in the Iron Age, these vessels represent a reawakening of an illustrious tradition dating back at least to the Helladic Bronze Age, if not considerably earlier.