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

Thin and leaf-shaped, made on a very thin flint flake. 7.73 grams, 48 mm



Found in 1901. From the collection of Captain Streatfield, who helped to fund the archaeology excavations at Farnham, Kent. After Captain Streatfield passed away in the 1940s, his collection was sold at auction to a gentleman in Kent. The collection was then sold again in the 2020’s via a UK auction house.

Rectangular in plan and biconvex in section with squared butt; inked 'Wishanger/ 29 TP' legend. 240 grams, 13.7 cm



Found Wishanger, near Farnham, Surrey, UK. Found during the original official excavations in the Farnham area, Surrey, UK, which were conducted by Harold Falkner (1875-1963) and William Francis Rankine (c.1877-1962), who were instrumental in 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 a D-section blade core and a thin trapezoidal blade; each marked 'S.Africa'. 86.9 grams total, 39-58 mm



Gifted to 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.

Triangular in plan with long cutting edges; with an inked inscription reading 'AA.7, U.S.A., HF'. 1.29 grams, 25.02 mm



With the desired Hugh Fawcett Collection monogram. From the collection of West Sussex, UK, collector.

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 makes his pieces readily identifiable.

Biconvex in section and piriform in plan with inked legend 'La Grande Pièce avril 1970'. 66 grams, 71.8 mm



From La Grande, France, 1970. From the collection of the famous UK musician and amateur archaeologist, Victor Brox (1941-2023). Acquired on the UK art market at auction after being sold by Mr Brox’s family. From a private collection.

Thin in section, Levallois-type side scraper 'Racloir’ with notched point 55.6 grams, 97 mm



From Yonne, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region of France. From a large French collection built up in the early 1900s. Acquired on the European art market in the 2020s. From a private collection.

Ovate in plan and plano-convex in section with intricate knapping; marked 'Pierrepont 14 23-4-93'. 75.4 grams, 74 mm



Found Pierrepont, Calvados, Normandy, France. Acquired on the UK art market in the 2020s. From a private collection.

Attributed to Neanderthal man.

Comprising: polished axe, rectangular in plan and section with inked 'Denma[..]' and pencilled notations; microlith edge scraper with inked notation 'Koster Denmark (Midden) DEN.45'. 370 grams total, 4.7-10.8 cm



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.

Spheroid in form with flattened underside. 591 grams, 89 mm



From the Dordogne, France. Ex old German collection of Dr J Fehkhaber, formed in the 1970s. Acquired on the art market in the 2020s. From the private collection of an East Anglian, UK, specialist collector.

Cordate in form and biconvex in section with rounded point, glossy patina. 83.6 grams, 79 mm



Found Pierrepont, Calvados, Normandy, France. Acquired on the UK art market in the 2020s. From a private collection.

Attributed to Neanderthal man.

Lentoid in section and gently tapering with breakage to butt, chipped; inked findspot 'Clayton Hill'. 361 grams, 16.5 cm



Found Clayton Hill, West Sussex, UK. From the private collection of Peter Clayton, FCILIP, Dip, Arch, FSA, FRNS, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, UK; formed since the late 1950s.

Long-bone fragment modified with sharpened point; old label 'Dagger [.] / Pin. Swiss / Lakes Pre / Historic [...]'. 21.9 grams, 18 cm



Found Swiss Lakes, 4th December 1899. 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.