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

Scaphoid in plan and lenticular in section with pencilled findspot 'Snailslynch'. 42 grams, 10.3 cm



Found Snailslynch, 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 mostly bifacial and uniface leaf-shaped and piriform flint and chert arrowheads; probably from the Sahara region of North Africa. 111 grams total, 22-42 mm



Ex UK gallery, early 2000s.

Leaf-shaped in plan and triangular in section, with an old label reading 'La Croze de Tayac'. 8.23 grams, 68 mm



Found Le Groze, Du Tay, France. Acquired in the 1970s-1990s. 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 the private collection of an East Anglian, UK, specialist collector.

Eleven irregular shards and scrapers mounted on a green background in a gilded frame. 320 grams total, 21 x 15.6 cm



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

A substantial flint core 'Livre de Beurre' with vertical traces of blows on the work side, slightly scooped ends; with cortex to one face. 4.62 kg, 32.5 cm



From Gran Pressigny, France. Ex old German collection of Dr J. Fehkhaber, formed in the 1970s.

Tongue-shaped in plan with one rounded and one flat end. 166 grams, 13.3 cm



Found Norfolk, UK. Acquired on the UK art market in the 1980s. From an East Anglian private collection.

Cordate type with bulb to the butt, rippled surface; old inked legend 'Swanscombe Kent'. 57.7 grams, 69.4 mm



Found Swanscombe, Kent, UK. From the original collection of Henry Dewey. From the collection of a London, UK, gentleman.

Attributed to Neanderthal man.

Comprising five triangular arrowheads in pale brown and black stone; three with old labels. 3.76 grams total, 15.7-20.2 mm



Found El Golea, Algeria. Ex old German collection of Dr J. Fehkhaber, formed in the 1970s.

Comprising mostly bifacial and uniface leaf-shaped and piriform flint and chert arrowheads; probably from the Sahara region of North Africa. 109 grams total, 23-43 mm



Ex UK gallery, early 2000s.

Comprising: D-section tongue-shaped smoothing stone with legend 'Farnham Pit Dwelling'; polished cleaver with rounded edge, inked legend '507/D Pit XVIII Base 18 v 1935', gummed label and other notations; polished handaxe with narrow butt, inked 'TREEN' legend; old typed listing of pits in the excavation. 506 grams total, 7.2-11.5 cm



Found Farnham circa 1948-1949. 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. Accompanied by an original typed listing annotated by Rankine.

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. 84 grams total, 19-35 mm



Ex UK gallery, early 2000s.

Comprising two tanged, a barbed and a tear-shaped. 13.8 grams total, 30-58 mm



Found El Golea, Algeria. Ex old German collection of Dr J. Fehkhaber, formed in the 1970s.