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

Tongue-shaped in profile and biconvex in section with irregular narrow butt; old inked legend 'F[.] / W. Wittering Hants'. 263 grams, 13.5 cm



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 three points with a 'swallow-tail' type tang and one with a rectangular tang in cream and grey stone. 72.7 grams total, 63-80 mm



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

Narrow and rectangular in section with cortex to both faces; old inked legends 'Wheydon Pit Farnham', 'S.A.C.19 L.D. 132' and others mostly effaced. 178 grams, 16.5 cm



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.

Piriform in plam with cortex to the reverse; rounded butt and broad point; old inked legend '16 St Front'. 66.9 grams, 76 mm



From St Front, Périgueux, Dordogne, France. Acquired in the 1970s-1990s. From the collections of the famous UK musician and amateur archaeologist, Victor Brox (1941-2023). From the private collection of an East Anglian, UK, specialist collector.

Narrow blade made from cream stone, inked Hugh Fawcett collection monogram and notes 'North America, 60-47'. 33.5 grams, 10.8 cm



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.

Worked on all sides to a slightly asymmetrical profile with rectangular cross-section; irregular butt and rounded cutting edge, sides knapped but not polished; butt roughly retouched on surface and edges for attachment of the haft; edge chipped; light grey flint with darker and lighter hues and white spots and patches. 411 grams, 15.2 cm



Hervé Bouraly, Paris, between 1965-1974. Accompanied by a copy of an Art Loss Register certificate no.S00134589.

Comprising three tanged points in grey-brown stone, two barbed. 57.9 grams total, 64-78 mm



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

Classic piriform type with broad butt. 206 grams, 17.6 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.

With a flat underside and a slender, elongated drill bit. 9.64 grams, 52 mm



From the private collection of the late Mr M., a collector from Waterlooville, Hampshire, UK; late 1980s-early 1990s.

Biconvex in section with narrow butt, curved cutting edge, cortex to butt; old inked legend 'F[.] / Whitmoor Common Worplesdon / 17-6-51'. 310 grams, 13 cm



Found Worplesdon, Surrey, UK, on 17th June 1951. From the collection of 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.

Biconvex in section and tongue-shaped with narrow rounded butt, polished surface. 94 grams, 10.6 cm



By repute, found Lincolnshire, UK.

Comprising four ovate points in grey and cream stone. 83.9 grams total, 67-82 mm



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